+ 652 840 1986
2.04
The non-ethaic Chinese community in HK supported by the Legislative Council, have argued that the nationality and right of abode provisions do not go far enough. They say that unlike ethnic Chinese BUTCs they will not have a right of abode in HK by virtue of their nationality. And they are concerned about the nacionality status of their descendants. They have therefore asked to be granted British citizenship, which carries with it the right of abode in the UK, rather chan BN(Ü) or British Uverseas citizen status. The Legislative Council have also asked that about 400 former servicemen in HK should be granted British citizenship, or that the Government should give sympathetic consideration to their registration as British citizena under section 4(5) of the British Nationality Act 1981.
But
i shall, of course, listen carefully to what you have to say. I have to tell you that the Government is not persuaded that it would be right to grant British citizenship to non-ethnic Chinese BDTC:. They want to continue to live and work in HK, and this is guaranteed by the agreement. Nor would the granting of British citizenship be of any advantage to future generations. British citizenship can be transmitted to only one generation born abroad. The second generation has an entitlement to registration as British citizens similar to the proposed entitlement to British Overseas citizen status. After that there is no automatic claim to British citizenship, nor eritlement to registration. Conferring British citizenship on nom-erhoic Chinese BDTCs in HK would give future generations no advantage in avoiding stacelessness or securing their future in M.
The Government's proposals, together with the agreement, wi11 provide all HK BDTCs with a recognised nationality status and a place to call cheir nome. As was made clear during the debate on the HK bill, the Government's view is that the right course for those who have permanently settled in what will by then have been part of China for many years is for them to apply to become Chinese nationals, although they will not, of course, be compelled to do so. We have discussed this with the Chinese Government in the Siao-British Jolut Liatson Group, and they have confirmed that non-Chinese who meet the legal requirements under Chinese nationality law may apply for Chinese nationailly and their cases will be dealt with by the appropriate authoritiQA.
As to the former servicemen, we recognise of course the valiant and gallant contribution they made during the War. But Many of there were burn lu HK, as were their ancestors. Most are BDTCs who will be encilled to become BN(0)s and will have the right to abode in UK. Furthermore, Lite HK Act dues not allow us to use the Order to grant British citizenship to those BDTCa who have another nationality, not therefore risk starelessness, cor to those who are not PDTCS, if we thought it right to do so.
and
even
住む
--ཡན་