been enshrined in the Joint Declaration and the
Basic Law. The Chinese authority was also keen
that people in Hong Kong with non-Chinese race
should continue to stay in Hong Kong.
(e) The applicants' ethnic origin was not a factor of
consideration under the British Nationality
Scheme which had made no special provision for
any ethnic groups. All eligible candidates,
including the ethnic minorities had to compete
with each other for a place in the British
Nationality Scheme.
(£) There had been some inter-governmental
discussions in respect of those Indian and
Pakistanese passport holders residing in Hong
Kong. The Indian and the Pakistani governments
apparently were also aware of the concern of
those ethnic minorities holding BDTC or BN(0)
passports. If it was the wish of the ethnic
minorities, the Hong Kong Government was prepared
to raise the matter with their respective
Governments on the question of passports of their
countries of ethnic origin.
(g)
The Hong Kong Government did not have che
information on the number of ethnic minorities
who succeeded in the British Nationality Scheme
because applicants were not required to disclose
their ethnic origin in their applications.