CONFIDENTIAL
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74
MDHOAN
1986 ALREADY GIVES THE ETHNIC MINORITIES A FURTHER ASSURANCE BY PROVIDING THAT SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF THOSE WHO ARE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENS PRIOR TO
1 JULY 1997, WILL HAVE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP IF THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE STATELESS.
(B) THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO ON MANY OCCASIONS GIVEN AN ASSURANCE THAT IF ANY SOLELY BRITISH NATIONAL, WITH NO CLAIM TO CHINESE NATIONALITY, CAME UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE TO LEAVE HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY WOULD CONSIDER WITH CONSIDERABLE AND PARTICULAR SYMPATHY THEIR CASE FOR ADMISSION TO THE UK. THAT ASSURANCE HAS BEEN REPEATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING PARLIAMENT'S CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL.
(C)
FOR THESE REASONS, IT IS UNNECESSARY TO MAKE SPECIAL PROVISION IN THE BILL. MEMBERS OF THE EURASIAN COMMUNITY WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA WILL OF COURSE BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE BILL IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER PEOPLE RESIDENT IN HONG KONG. THE POSITION OF THOSE RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL, OF COURSE, DEPEND ON THEIR NATIONALITY AND ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE RECOGNISE THAT MEMBERS OF THE EURASIAN COMMUNITY MAY WELL BE UNCLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEIR POSITION WILL BE AND THIS UNCERTAINTY INEVITABLY CAUSES CONCERN. WE SHALL DISCUSS THIS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO SEE IF THEY CAN CLARIFY THE POSITION AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING MORE WHICH EITHER THEY OR WE CAN DO TO REASSURE THE EURASIAN COMMUNITY THAT THEIR FUTURE IS SECURE.
UNQUOTE
3. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS DESKBY 0609OOZ.
HURD
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