(D)
NATIONALITY
CONFIDENTIAL
9. As my rt hon and learned Friend has emphasised, HMG will
The New Year
introduce legislation into give effect to the nationality provisions in the UK Memorandum.
This will involve the creation of
a new form of British nationality for former Hong Kong BDTCs who have obtained a passport before 1 July 1997. In general they will
enjoy the same benefits as BDTCs except for the transmissibility of
their status to their children. We argued very strongly indeed in the negotiations for transmissibility.
The Chinese
side said that they could not in any circumstances accept it, and we
had in the end to accept this. The House will of course have the
opportunity to debate nationality questions further in connection.
with the legislation I have mentioned.
10. Individual rights of abode in the UK are not affected by the
agreement. BDTCs do not have this right of abode now; nor will their future status carry it. But rights of abode in Hong Kong are
fully protected by agreement.
CONFIDENTIAL
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