TNAG-1327-FCO40-1740-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Ministerial-statements-1984 — Page 111

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ICOLO 1174·0.

by naturalization, and the unhappy situation of non-Chinese BDTCs who have severed their links with their country of origin. There were some expressions of relief at the assurances given by the Hong Kong Government that special arrangements for the latter group would be considered, but many were still worried about the future of their descendants born after 1997.

"We do not care what happens to Hong Kong for our own sake. However, we worry for our children.'

-A group of individuals

""

4.70 Not all were as bitter on the nationality issue, for example several who spoke in the Legislative Council debate or at District Board meetings considered the arrangements to be the best possible in the circumstances, although some commented that because they were contained in an Exchange of Memoranda rather than in the Annexes to the Joint Declaration, they could not be considered as legally binding as the other parts of the draft agreement.

4.71 There was a widely shared hope on the part of all who concerned themselves with the questions of nationality and travel documents that the British Government and Parliament may find a way of providing fuller assurances for BDTCs in the coming years.

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