TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 80

HONG KONG: NATIONALITY WHITE PAPER:

DEBATE ON THE ADJOURNMENT OPENING SPEECH (COMMONS)

The White Paper which is before the House today sets out the

Government's proposals for implementing the nationality

provisions of the Hong Kong Act 1985. With the White Paper

is the draft of an Order in Council which would enact these

provisions and which, subject to what is said in this debate,

we would hope to lay formally before the House before Easter.

The Government believes that the nationality provisions in the

White Paper are fair and comprehensive. They are intended

to establish clearly the future citizenship of British

Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong once Hong Kong

ceases to be a dependent territory on 1 July 1997. We are

introducing them in very good time to prevent uncertainty and

to ensure that people in Hong Kong and third countries have

an opportunity to get used to the new passport. Once the

Order is made there will be much detailed work still to

do.

But the foundation will have been laid and we believe

it will provide a stable basis on which the people of

Hong Kong can plan their future with confidence.

These nationality provisions arise directly out of the Sino-British

Joint Declaration on Hong Kong and its associated exchange

of memoranda on nationality. Hon Members will recall that

the House debated and approved the Government's intention

to sign the agreement just over a year ago, after the people

of Hong Kong had been given an opportunity to express their

views, and the overwhelming majority had found it acceptable.

Following that debate, my rt hon Friend the Prime Minister

went to Peking to sign the agreement.

/As a