CONFIDENTIAL
Nationality
9.
The Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 provides that persons who are British Dependent Territories citizens by virtue of
Kong may apply for British National
(Overseas) status before 1 July 1997.
The new status and the
with it will be introduced from 1 July 1987.
a
connection with Hong
passport that goes
On
30 September 1986, HMG began formal approaches to foreign and
in a major effort to
Commonwealth
countries
parliamentary interest in this subject and
third countries.
ensure wide
international recognition of the new status and passport. There is
in due course HMG will
reactions of report
Nationality is still an
emotive issue in Hong Kong, although passions appear to have cooled
earlier this year during the passage of the Order, when the ethnic minority (ie non-Chinese) BDTCs in Hong Kong, gained much publicity for their (unsuccessful) campaign to persuade HMG to
them British grant
somewhat from
Parliament
citizenship.
Lord
Glenarthur's
it 16 May 1986 that HMG would "consider
on
upon any
future
government
to
with treat
very
statement in
an obligation
considerable and
particular sympathy the case for admission to the United Kingdom of
any individual British national
expectations,
came
under
pressure
who, against
leave to
Hong
our all
Kong"
present
has
been
favourably received.
Hong Kong Economy
10.
Despite several
performance of
of the Hong Kong economy during 1985 was disappointing.
was
under
Real GDP growth
investment fell by 3% and imports grew by 6%.
encouraging developments, the overall
1%, domestic
exports
declined
by
5%,
11.
exports
positive
Against this background,
stabilised
declining a
towards the end of 1985
trend
and since
in
domestic
March 1986
year
on
year
growth
has
once
again
been
reestablished.
During the first six months of 1986, domestic exports were
in both real and money terms than in 1985 whilst re-exports
1%.
that these
rates of
8% higher
rose by
be
Expectations
growth will not only
maintained but bettered during the second half of 1986 have resulted
CONFIDENTIAL
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