HKLAGY
CONFIDENTIAL
b)
1.
"1.
Hong
Background note
Replace paras 1 and 2 by:
Negotiations
Kong
difficult.
accept that
with the Chinese on the nationality. status of
to
BD TC s after 1 July 1997 proved to be particularly
This was
because the Chinese Government have refused
Chinese "compatriots" in Hong Kong are anything other
than Chinese nationals. They do not recognise BD TC status, which
they say is derived from the UK's illegal occupation of Hong Kong.
The negotiations were further complicated by
by the fact that Chinese
nationality law does not recognise dual nationality and the Chinese could not therefore recognise explicitly that Chinese nationals also
had British passports.
2.
Nationality. is
a particularly sensitive issue in Hong Kong. There is a widely held belief in the territory that the BNA 1981 was
introduced with the express purpose of giving the
people
of Hong
Kong a second class form of British nationality and preventing them
emigrating
UK
suspicions
the
press
for
a
the to
1997 as
Executive Hong Kong
continued
approached.
Council
In
form of
of these
urged ustrongly
British nationality
Hong Kong
light
to
for
BD TCs after 1997, and the continued ability to transmit that status This was however unattainable and a compromise
to
was
their children.
agreed
in
an exchange
Declaration whereby
draft)."
of
memoranda
associated
(as last two
with
sentence of - Home
the
Joint
Office
2.
Add
to
para
7:
"The
Order
Legislative Council
on
proposals
which
are
covered
attached
to Mr
Renton's
letter
4 December 1985.
in the
of (
in was debated
Speakers made
the Hong Kong
a
number of
reports
)"
from
[We hope
the Governor
to send a
letter covering Hong Kong's reports shortly.]
CONFIDEN TIAL
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