TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 198

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG NATIONALITY WHITE PAPER

DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL

ARGUMENTS FOR AMENDMENT

人

7.

PROVISIONS FOR REDUCING STATELESSNESS

Argument

1.

People who risk being stateless, particularly the ethnic

Indian community in Hong Kong should be granted British citizenship,

which gives them the right of abode in the UK and which can be

passed on to their children.

Government Proposals

2.

Under Article 6, these BDTCs who might for any reason

become stateless would automatically become British Overseas citizen

(without the right of abode in the UK); any of their children who

would otherwise be stateless would also be BOCS; and their grand-

it barn children who would otherwise be stateless would be entitled to apply

for registration as BOCs.

Line to Take

3.

The granting of British citizenship is unnecessary to provide a citizenship status for people in Hong Kong who would otherwise. be stateless; and it would provide no guarantee of right of abode in Hong Kong after 1997. British Overseas citizenship is an entirel adequate and fitting status in the circumstances. It cannot, of

course, guarantee right of abode in Hong Kong. guaranteed under the Joint Declaration. A right of abode elsewhere

is not therefore necessary.

But that is

Background

4.

This is likely to be one of the most controversial issues. It particularly affects non-ethnic Chinese BDTCs and their

descendents who the Chinese

nationals.

and Na

Lo

not

at present regard as their

Representations have been made to emmat supportin

suggestions by the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations.