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anyone who had right of abode only in Hong Kong before 1 July 1997 even if he has not been there for seven years. In other words the guarantees cover all the non-ethnic Chinese Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens except those who have left Hong Kong permanently and have the right of abode elsewhere.
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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: and secondly, about the nationality status of their descendants after the second generation born after 1997: and they have therefore asked to be granted British citizenship, rather than BN (0) or BOC status.
I shall listen very carefully to all that is said in the debate
but I have to say that the Governemnt 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 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
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