1992-11-19 17:32 SECURITY BRANCH
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imate about 7,000 are either Hong Kong British
Dependent Territories citizens or British Overseas
citizens. Both groups hold passports which assure them of
British consular protection worldwide. Additionally,
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very small number (believed to be about 100) are technically stateless. Under the Basic Law 24(4), they are guaranteed the right of abode that is, the right to enter
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and not to be deported from Hong Kong - after 1997. These who wish to secure that right before 1997 may do so by becoming BDTCS. Thus, this debate concerns perhaps some 7,000 to 8,000 people.
Some Members have given the impression that the Government has not carefully examined the position of the ethnic minorities.
drafting of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. And, in 1990, UK Ministers reconsidered the question during the parliamentary debate on the British Nationality Scheme
We have done so. We did so during the
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(BNE). They concluded and in preparing for today's debate we have now established that this remains their view that the non-Chinese ethnic minorities' position after 1997 was adequately protected both in the Joint Declaration and in the Basic Law which guarantee them right