31-SEP-1993 12:01
B4 IND LIVERPOOL
2
44 051 236 3386
P.03
The Government's position is that the members of the ethnic minorities who are British Dependent Territories citizens have exactly the same opportunities as the Chinese population of Hong Kong to acquire the status of British National (Overseas) or British citizenship. Fears are expressed that the ethnic minorities, their children or their grandchildren will be stateless and have no right of abode in Hong Kong, but I am satisfied that they are unfounded. Specific provision to protect their position was made in the Joint Declaration in the Basic Law. Under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 those who hold British nationality before the transfer of sovereignty are guaranteed to retain or acquire British nationality in one form or another after 30 June 1997.
Concern has also been expressed about the isolated position in which the ethnic minorities may find themselves once sovereignty has been transferred, but the Chinese Government have made it clear that they will be welcome to stay in Hong Kong and apply for Chinese citizenship. We have given clear assurances over the years that if members of the ethnic minorities with no other nationality came under pressure to leave Hong Kong and had nowhere else to go,
the government of the day would be expected to consider with considerable and particular sympathy their case for admission to the United Kingdom. Charles Wardle repeated that assurance in the House of Commons on 9 July.
I am extremely grateful for your support in this matter.
eve
у
Michael
MICHAEL HOWARD