3
According to surveys and information provided by
the community groups, there were about 7 000
ethnic minorities, approximating 2 000 families,
holding BDTC or BN (0) passports. These people
were not and would not be stateless. Only about
a hundred people, most elderly White Russians in
Hong Kong could probably be classified as
stateless. Even these people could have the
right of abode in Hong Kong under the Basic Law.
(c) The ethnic minorities seemed to fear that they
would be treated worse off than Hong Kong Chinese
after 1997. The fear was merely speculative and
arguable (e.g. on whether 'foreigness' and
deportability was a bad or good thing in a really
worst-case situation). The Chinese nationality
laws and practice were actually relatively
liberal towards different groups of ethnic
minorities within China. General worst-case
worries for the future after 1997 were shared by
many other ethnic Chinese Hong Kong residents.
It was difficult for the Hong Kong Government to
single out a group for special treament on the
basis of such guesses of "vulnerability".
(d)
The Hong Kong Government was working with China
on the details of how foreigners could take Hong
Kong as their permanent place of residence.
right of abode for foreign nationals had already
The