TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 264

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The UK Memorandum, on the other hand, confirms that all persons who on 30 June 1997 are, by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong, British Dependent Territories citizens will cease to be BDTCS with effect from 1 July 1997, but will be eligible to retain an appropriate status which will entitle them to continue to use passports issued by the British

Government.

However, the Memoranda though related to the Agreement are not part of it. People may worry whether the commitments made in the Memoranda would be annulled with the change of

government.

The introduction of the Hong Kong Bill and the debate in Parliament indicate that the UK is earnest in implementing the Agreement and fulfilling her commitment in the Memorandum, so that all those people of Hong Kong who on 1 July 1997 will

to be British Dependent Territories citizens will be eligible to retain an appropriate status. This is of utmost importance and can be regarded as the touchstone for all the commitments in the Agreement. It is not only a matter of concern for over three million BDTCs in Hong Kong, but also something on which all the five million-odd people of Hong Kong should focus their attention.

Unfortunately, not too many people have expressed concern about the issue and put forward their views. They tend to think that the dust has settled and they may as well agree with "Romeo and Juliet" that:

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose.

By any other name would smell as sweet.

"

W. Shakespeare