TNAG-1392-FCO40-1864-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 185

JH1ADH

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG: NATIONAL I TY

1.

Boubtless an

obrims Evertin: mo

British nationality then, and a paroport, does not comply any In the like for either BDTCS or

Bulion

right to settle

BNO(S).

The negotiation with the Chinese on the Exchange of

Memorandum

Declaration

not accept

was

on nationality associated with the Joint

particularly difficult. The Chinese do

accept the

dual nationality, and do not

existence of British Dependent Territories citizenship by

virtue of a connection with Hong Kong. As far as they are concerned, the ethnic Chinese population of Hong Kong are

Chinese nationals. In the negotiations we persuaded them

to accept however that after 1 July 1997 BDTCs should be

able to retain a British passport

We had to agree that this

status would no longer be known as British Dependent

Territories citizenship and that it would not be

transmissible to further generations.

2.

as

The Hong Kong Bill set out the framework for the

legislation necessary to implement the UK Memorandum and

enabled this to be effected through an Order in Council.

this Order in Council will deprive British Dependent

Territories citizens by virtue of a connection with Hong

Kong of that status but enable them to acquire on application a new form of British nationality to be known

British National (Overseas). We estimate that there are about 31/4 million BDTCs in Hong Kong and we expect

most of these will apply for British National

(Overseas) status in the period up to 1997. We will

introduce the status and the new passport in 1987 to allow as long a lead time as possible to enable third countries

to get used to this new status and to avoid unnecessary bunching of applications in 1997 itself.

that

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

CLOSED FOR

...40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO.7.(1)_____

CONFIDENTIAL