1993 11:37
B4 IND LIVERPOOL
44 051 236 3386
P.03
I have to say, however, My Lords, that the Government is not
persuaded by these arguments. We remain firmly of the view that
such special measures are neither necessary nor appropriate.
This was the conclusion reached by Parliament when the British
Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill was debated in 1990 and we have not
heard any arguments since
since that would justify any change of
policy.
be
stateless
after 1997.
Special citizenship measures have been advocated in the past on
the basis that the ethnic minorities concerned would otherwise
The noble Lord's Bill is now
acknowledging, hoWEVEL, that the ethnic minoritico do have
national status and that it is only without that that they would
be stateless. Specific provision was made in article 6 of the
Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 to deal with the
possibility of statelessness. Ünder the terms of the Order
people with solely British nationality- that is, British..
J
Territories
as
Dependent
citizenship or British Nationality
(Overseas) before 1997 will retain British nationality after
1997, primarily as British Nationals (Overseas) but also
British Overseas citizens if they fail to register as British
Nationals (Overseas) and would otherwise be stateless. The
children of those who become British Overseas citizens or British
Nationals (Overseas) under the 1986 order will automatically
become British Overseas citizens if they would otherwise be
stateless. Their grandchildren will also have an entitlement to
acquire British Overseas citizenship by registration
they would otherwise be stateless.
2
again, if