TNAG-1559-FCO40-2123-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 161

1

1

The thing A morim to this

• paned,

effect

ano

ajan

wan

sugyoured by the thy hap Government.

4

They wanted to be assured that it would be internationally

acceptable as a travel document, and that its holder would

enjoy the same rights of access to other countries as those

holding British Dependent Territory passports. And they asked

that the new passport should say that the holder did not need

entry clearance to enter the UK. Members also supported the

request by the non-ethnic Chinese minority in Hong Kong and

by some former servicemen to be granted British citizenship

rather than British National (Overseas) status or British

Overseas citizenship. I shall respond to these points

in a few minutes. But I think it would be for the convenience

of the House if I first said a few words in explanation

of the draft Order.

I should like to make it clear at the outset that the Order can,

by definition, affect only those people who are British

Dependent Territories citizens by virtue of a connection

with Hong Kong. It cannot therefore affect anyone who is

not a British Dependent Territories citizen, or whose

citizenship can be derived wholly from a connection with

another dependent territory. But it is not sufficient

simply to refer in the Order to "a connection with Hong Kong"

without defining what such a connection may be. Article 2

of the draft Order provides that definition.

It sets out

/in a