TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 55

.DEC 04 '85 10:19 TIB(OOU) HK GOVT

Speech by Allen Lee

Six:

on December 4, 1985

Adjournment Debate on British Nationality Order

P.13

I am a holder of the Hong Kong Certificate of Indentity, therefore I can claim that I am not speaking for my personal interest. This after- noon my collegues will speak on other issues in relation to the British Nationality Order. I only want to concentrate on the issue of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.

Since the publication of the Order, there are considerable concerns among the minorities in Hong Kong that they will become stateless. Eventhough they are offered British Overseas Citizenship (BOC) after 1st July, 1997, and provisions would be made for their children and grandchildren born after 1997 for BOC status, but there is a possibility that the third generation of the minority group will become stateless.

The Indian Community made representation to UMSTCO and expressed strongly even if HMG obtains the agreement from the Chinese Government that their future descendants can apply for Chinese citizenship, but they are reluctant, at this point in time, to commit themselves on acceptance.

Sir, no one

should become stateless during the transfer of

sovereignty nor in the future. We are living in a free world. These minorities in Hrg Kong choose to become BDIC's because they have faith in the British Government. It is unethical for the British Government to turn her back and wash her hands clean with regard to less than ten thousand minorities in this category. One argument that I have heard is that even for a British citizen living outside of British for two generations that the third generation will lose British citizen- ship, but the difference is that the British citizen has the freedom of choice. In the case of

In the case of the minorities in Hong Kong, they do not have tlus fredom of choice. Therefore, I strongly urge the British Government on the grounds that they are non, Chinese ethnic minorities,

or Brited. Rependent Buritisy το offer them British citizenship, afterall this is

British

responsiblity. Failing to take up this responsibility, in my view, is unthinkable. I hope members of the British parliament consider this case carefully.

د و می کورد و پی اس

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2.12.55