TNAG-1385-FCO40-1833-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 198

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necessary amended, before

introduction in the normal way

under affirmative resolution procedures. The Home Office

therefore propose to publish the White Paper in Hong Kong

and London in mid-October, allowing two months for

discussion in Hong Kong before the first parliamentary

debate in mid-December. They will then withdraw the order and reintroduce it in March/April 1986.

7.

Home Office in the

to ensure that Hong

account.

The Home

present in support.

We will liaise closely with the

preparation for the debate on the Order

Kong's interests are tak en fully into

Office may ask for an FCO Minister to be

I think that it is very important in PR terms in Hong Kong

that an FCO Minister should be seen to be there: otherwise

there will be the usual criticism that we "don't care".

8. As well as the predictable nationality points that will

be made by Enoch Powell оп one side and by those who are

opposed to the BNA 1981 on the other, the most controversial

area in discussion of the Order is likely to be the question

of

statelessness: The Indian community in Hong Kong mounted

a campaign during the passage of the Hong Kong Bill for the

right of abode in the UK to be extended to them. They

argued that they would be left stateless as a result of the

agreement. As a

concession we agreed that grandchildren as

well as children, born after 1 July 1997 to

born after 1 July 1997 to former Hong Kong

BDTCs could acquire British Overseas Citizenship. There is

evidence that the Indian community will mount a further

campaign during the passage of the Order. There

scope for further concessions to them, but the Government's

position on this point now seems wholly defensible.

is

no

9. It is conceivable that the Chinese might note that under

the Order BN (O)s will be Commonwealth Citizens and raise

this with us.

We have maintained this provision in the

order because of the important range of rights that go with

Commonwealth Citizenship. I f the Chinese did raise the

matter with us we should explain that the provision does not

imply that Hong Kong is part of the Commonwealth, but is

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