TNAG-1557-FCO40-2121-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 19

Chinese community in Hong Kong.

19.

a

best

guarantee

For those who fear statelessness, the provision in Article 6

and those in agreement need to be considered together. They provide

recognised nationality status, that of British Overseas Citizen,

which properly reflects a person's relationship with Britain; and

they ensure that no BD TC in Hong Kong will be at risk of becoming

stateless. The right of abode provisions agreed with the Chinese

Government provide the

possible that those

established in Hong Kong and their children will be able to continue

to live there. There is по other satisfactory or reliable way to

provide people in Hong Kong with what they want the right of abode

there. In the unlikely event however of any British national being

forced to leave Hong Kong and having nowhere to go the Government

have made it clear, and I want to repeat again, that we would expect

the Government of the day to consider sympathetically whether to

such people on a case by case basis in the light of the

particular circumstances.

admit

20.

Bill,

for those who

been part of

become Chinese

A s Ministers made clear during the debate on the Hong Kong

the Government's view is that the right course

have permanently settled in what by then will have

China for many years will be for them to apply to

nationals. We have discussed this with the Chinese Government in

Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, and they have confirmed that

Chinese nationality laws allow people living in China who are

stateless to apply for Chinese nationality, and that their cases

would be delt with by the appropriate authorities. They will not of

Course be compelled to apply for Chinese nationality

the

21.

As regards the former servicemen in Hong Kong the Government

fully recognise the contribution they made during the war and indeed

the contribution made by many people in Hong Kong during those

years. But it does not necessarily follow that

this

contribution

now by granting them British

we should mark

citizenship.

Their

(8)