RESTRICTED 14
2
did
ex-British colony, but who had not become nationals of the
ex-colony when it became independent, for example some
Chinese-in-Malaysia.
Asians i East Africa.
3.
BOC status will likewise in 1997 become the
residual option (to avoid statelessness), for, those Hong
and for those who are not citizens of some Kong BDTCs who do not become Chinese nationals er
other Country ethanie BN(0)LS. All Chinese will become Chinese nationals in
1997 automatically, and the ethnic minorities may do so
voluntarily, according to our understanding of the PRC
position. Comparative provisions in the Hong Kong
(British Nationality Order 1986) for BOC's as against
BN(0)s are produced in full in Annex A in table form. A
simpler diagram of the various options beyond 1997 for
Hong Kong BDTCS is at Annex B.
nor RN (0)S.
4.
Persons regarded as Chinese nationals are not
stateless. Neither will their children be stateless at
birth according to our understanding of the Chinese
Nationality Law. They and their children will therefore
not be eligible for BOC status. The only uncertainty is
parting with respect to those who are slightly Chinese as it is
not clear in Chinese Nationality Law how, if such law is
based on race, the degree of ethnicity will be defined in
international legal terms. However it is clear that for
G.F. 324
RESTRICTED 內部文件