TNAG-1378-FCO40-1826-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 31

NATIONALITY

CONFIDENTIAL

STATELESSNESS

NER PALE

A number of Noble Lords have referred to the problem of

statelessness.

As I made clear in my speech at the beginning of the

debate the Government have made their intention clear that

no former Hong Kong BDTC, nor any child born on or after 1

July 1997 to such a person should be made stateless as a

result of the arrangements envisaged in the Bill.

Bishop &

Birmingham Ceader

I made it clear that the proposal that children born after

30 June 1997 to non-Chinese former BDTCs should acquire

BOC status automatically at birth if they would otherwise

be stateless is intended to apply only to the first

post-1997 generation. I appreciate that there may be concern about potential statelessness arising among

cern subsequent generations. It would not be appropriate as

general principle to grant British nationality

indefinitely and without restrictions to the descendants

of British nationals. However we are looking at the

question of potential statelessness amongst further

generations as a matter of urgency.

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CONFIDENTIAL