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Finally, let me say this. Britain has a good record of standing up for its nationals in distress whether they come from Hong Kong or anywhere else. In the case of Hong Kong, we do so even in cases of dual nationality today, and we will continue to do so after the handover. Britain will not sit idly by if British Nationals are in trouble. I understand Honourable Members' concern and the community's concern about some of the reports they have heard, many of which have been misleading in recent days. Those concerns are ill-founded. I will be very happy to take any questions.
End
Transcript of Governor's question-and-answer session
The following is the transcript of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten's special question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council this (Thursday) afternoon:
Dr Yeung Sum (in Chinese): Thank you Mr President. Today the Governor is attending this sitting probably because a British official has said that holders of the BNSS passports will not be protected by the Consulate-General after 1997. I would like to ask a question about the credibility of the British and Hong Kong Governments. Now, when the BNSS was introduced to Hong Kong was it made clear to the people of Hong Kong that consular protection would not be accorded to those with dual nationality? If that was made clear then it is not necessary to hold this meeting. Why didn't the British and Hong Kong Governments make this clear to the people of Hong Kong? Is this a question of credibility?
Governor: I am sure the Honourable gentleman would accept that in every country, in every country in the world, under the Hague Convention and under international law people with a dual nationality have difficulty in claiming full consular protection, and it states that explicitly, as I mentioned earlier, in every British passport. Not passports issued under the British Nationality Scheme, but every passport. I would think it highly likely that it says it also in the passports issued by other governments and countries. The Honourable Member is nodding his head next to Dr Yeung Sum. I am sure that is the situation.
What I want to make clear is that people in Hong Kong will be treated in exactly the same way as they would be treated anywhere else. We will not accept that there is any distinction between one form of British passport for a British National and another. A British National, a British citizen, is a British National, is a British citizen.