40.
The second group involves the children of so-called "split families". A number of British citizen parents in Hong Kong can transmit their citizenship to children born in Hong Kong on or
after 1 January 1983 (the date when the British Nationality Act
1981 came into force). But they are not able to transmit the citizenship to children born in Hong Kong before this date.
Home Secretary agreed last September to look generously and speedily at applications from families in this position for their
children to be registered as British citizens under Section 3 (i)
So Far
of the British Nationality Act. applications
148 out of 197
received so far have been successful.
yet
None has been refused.
The
41. The Committee considered that the Government had an
obligation to provide citizenship to non-Chinese British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTCs). There is continuing concern in Hong Kong (reflected in the Legislative Council) about the position of this group.
The Government consider that their position is
adequately protected by arrangements already in place and that
there is no case for fresh legislation. The non-Chinese community's position in Hong Kong is secure; neither they nor their children or grandchildren will be stateless; they are
eligible to apply for British citizenship under the British
Nationality Scheme (and some have been successful); and the British government stand by their undertaking to consider with particular sympathy the case for admission to the UK if, contrary to expectations, members of this community with solely British
nationality were to come under pressure to leave Hong Kong in the
future.
3DTC
42. On 1 July 1997, the status of British Dependent Territory
Citizen (BDTC) in Hong Kong will lapse, as provided in the UK
Memorandum annexed to the Joint Declaration. It will be replaced by British National (Overseas) (BNO) status. The Government have yousider decided that in order to avoid a last minute rush in 1997 by those
registering as BNO, a phased scheme for registering BDTCs as BNOS
select.cttee.PR.JRB