TNAG-1327-FCO40-1740-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Ministerial-statements-1984 — Page 9

(D)

NATIONALITY

CONFIDENTIAL

The New Ye

9. As my rt hon and learned Friend has emphasised, HMG will 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

it,

and we

side said that they could not in any circumstances accept 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