TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 88

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anyone who had right of abode only in Hong Kong before 1 July 1997. They cover all the non-ethnic Chinese

British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong,

unless they have left Hong Kong permanently and have

the right of abode elsewhere.

The Indian community in particular, with support from the Executive

and Legislative Councils of Hong Kong, argue that these provisions do not go far enough. They are concerned firstly

that BN(0) status will not itself give them right of abode in Hong Kong: this will be a matter for the Chinese Government. And secondly, they are concerned about the future nationality

status of their descendants after the second generation born.

after 1997. They have therefore asked to be granted British

citizenship, rather than BN (0) or BOC status. The Unofficial

Members have also asked that some 400 or so former servicemen

in Hong Kong should be granted British citizenship or altern-

atively that the Government should consider sympathetically any application they might make for registration as British

citizens under section 4(5) of the British Nationality Act

1981.

I shall listen very carefully to all that is said in the debate

but I have to say that the Government is not persuaded that

it would be right to grant British citizenship to those

BDTCs who are not ethnically Chinese. They want to continue

to live in Hong Kong. The Joint Declaration guarantees

/their