TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 89

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their right to do so. British citizenship cannot help

them in this regard. British citizenship cannot after

30 June 1997 give them the right of abode in a territory

which will no longer be British. Furthermore, the grant

of British citizenship would not benefit future generations

any more than the present proposals. British citizenship

can be transmitted to only one generation born abroad. The

second generation has an entitlement to registration as

British citizens similar to the proposed entitlement to

BOC status. After that there is no automatic claim nor

entitlement to registration as a British citizen. There

is therefore no advantage for future generations in terms

of avoiding statelessness or securing their future in

Hong Kong by conferring British citizenship on the non-

ethnic Chinese Community in Hong Kong.

For those who fear statelessness, the provisions in Article 6

and those in the agreement need to be considered together.

They provide a recognised nationality status, that of

British overseas citizen, which properly reflects a persons

relationship with Britain; and they ensure that no BDTC

in Hong Kong will be at risk of becoming stateless. The

right of abode provisions agreed with the Chinese

Government provide the best guarantee possible that those

/established