(i) they are close relatives of Chinese nationals;
or
(ii) they have settled in China; or
(iii) they have other legitimate reasons.
This would appear to offer the non-ethnic Chinese minority of Hong Kong a route to Chinese citizenship.
The Basic Law
4. The relevant Article is Article 24, sub-section 4 of
which states that:
Persons not of Chinese nationality who have entered
Hong Kong with valid travel documents, have ordinarily
resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years and have taken Hong Kong as their place
of permanent residence before or after the establishment
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Non-ethnic Chinese people thus have the right of abode in
Hong Kong after 1997.
5.
British Nationality Law
Members of the non-ethnic Chinese minority who hold BDTC
status are entitled to apply for British National Overseas
(BN (O)) status before 1997. Those who do not, and who would
otherwise be stateless, will automatically become British
Overseas Citizens (BOC). BOC status will extend to the
second generation born after 1 July 1997.
CC7ACA/2