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residence requirements,
there is no
difference between the
position of the ethnic minorities now and after 1997.
Some noble Lords who favour the grant of British citizenship have
stressed the fact that the ethnic minorities wish to remain in
Hong Kong. If that is the case there is no long-term benefit to
them in becoming British citizens. This is a very important
point to grasp. After the first generation born overseas British
citizenship is normally no longer transmissible unless residence
is taken up again in the United Kingdom. That applies to all
British citizens living overseas, not just those in Hong Kong.
Regardless of what form of British nationality they have, after
two or three generations it will not normally be renewable
without residence in the United Kingdom. At that point some
other nationality has to take its place. Continuation of British
nationality depends on the maintenance of close links with the
UK or its dependencies.
Concern has been expressed in our debates about the limitations
of the ethnic minorities British
on
the
transmissibility
nationality status, but they are in no way different from the
rest of the Hong Kong population in this. As I have saiā, no
form of British nationality will be transmissible indefinitely
in Hong Kong. The British Government cannot give indefinite
rights to transmit nationality from one generation to the next,
especially where the territory in question is not British.
repeat that those limitations in respect of future generations
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