questions.NAT
JEB
BN (0) or BOC). Neither will their children nor their
grandchildren be stateless. The Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 specifically provides that the
children of BDTCs will have BOC status if they would otherwise
be stateless. The grandchildren of the original BDTCs will in
most cases have an entitlement to acquire BOC status by registration (again, if they would otherwise be stateless).
What other safeguards are there to protect the community's
position in Hong Kong ?
- The Joint Declaration and article 24 (6) of the Basic Law
guarantee the ethnic minorities right of abode in Hong Kong if
they do not have a right of abode elsewhere. The Chinese
authorities have said that people in Hong Kong of non-Chinese
race are welcome to remain and have suggested that they might
wish to apply for Chinese citizenship in the future.
BN (0) and BOC passports confer consular protection
world-wide including in the future SAR for holders who are not
Chinese nationals.
Does this assurance extend to other British Nationals?
The assurance I have just given was made in the context of
the ethnic minorities. [The Home Office is reviewing the application of the assurance beyond the ethnic minorities.]