NF
CONFIDENTIAL
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SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO INDIA, 15-18 JANUARY 1992
HKD 341/3
RECEIVED Ik he
Hong Kong: International Support/Right of Abode 17 FEB 1992
Background
DESK OFFICEE
FA
IZB.
We have not asked the Indians to lobby the Chinese in
support of Hong Kong (as eg the Japanese have done).
1.
Despite the recent warming in Sino-Indian relations
(including a visit in December by Li Peng) India's influence
on this is likely to be slight.
2.
There are about 4,500 British Dependent Territory
Citizens (BDTCs) of Indian extraction in Hong Kong. About
3,000 of these may have no other form of nationality (Indian
Nationality Law does not allow dual nationality at present).
3.
Under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 any
BDTCS who would otherwise become stateless on 1 July 1997
will acquire British Overseas Citizenship.
4.
In 1989 and 1990, Hong Kong Indian Associations lobbied HMG vigorously for special consideration under the Nationality package for non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. They were disappointed when Parliament decided
that the ethnic minorities should receive no special
treatment under the scheme. But the Home Secretary restated
previous assurances, that if, against all expectations,
members of non-Chinese ethnic minorities came under pressure
to leave Hong Kong in the future we would expect the
Government of the day to consider any case for admission to
the UK with considerable and particular sympathy.
JH2AAX/1
CONFIDENTIAL