CONFIDENTIAL
1
HMG WILL BE IN BREACH
OF UN CONVENTION ON
SUBSEQUENT GENERATIONS ARE NOT TAKEN CARE OF?
29.
STATELESSNESS
IF
be
stateless will
These
The children of BOCs who would otherwis se
themselves qualify for British Overseas Citizenship if they satisfy
the provisions laid down
in
Schedule 2 of the B NA 1981.
provisions are sufficient to enable the UK
international obligations under the Convention
to fulfil its
on Statelessness.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO ARE ALREADY
STATELESS?
30. There are 4.500 stateless persons of non-Chinese race in Hong
Kong. They are mainly Vietnamese and Cambodians who were in Hong
other ethnic minorities. The se
Kong at the fall of Saigon and Phnom-Penh as well as a handful of
persons, although they do not have
the right to reside in Hong Kong, have been granted permanent
unconditonal stay after nine years of residence in Hong Kong. Those
who meet the requirements are eligible to apply for
naturalisation
as
BDTCs in Hong Kong.
WHY CAN'T THE 6, 000 OR SO ETHNIC INDIANS IN HONG KONG WHO HAVE BDYC
AND NO OTHER NATIONALITY BE GRANTED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP,
THE STATUS OF BN(0)?
31. Several reasons why this would not be appropriate:
(a)
(b)
(c)
INSTEAD OF
It would amount to discrimination in favour of a section of the
Hong Kong community on ethnic criteria and might well cause
friction between the various communities in Hong Kong.
These people are identified with Hong Kong and it would be
contrary to principles of the British Nationality Act 1981 to
give them British citizenship.
British citizenship
those people who are closely identified with the UK.
i s
for
No reason to distrust Chinese intentions towards the non-ethnic
Chinese community,
and
no reason to suppose pressure
on
them to
leave.
CONFIDENTIAL
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