TNAG-1559-FCO40-2123-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 82

Nationality and Treaty Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Clive House Petty France London SW1H 9HD

J V G Mitchell Esq

2 Macdonnell Road HONG KONG

Telephone 01-213

Your reference

Our reference

GNN 340,10 JA2AJO

Date

16 May 1985

Dear Mr. Mitchell,

Your letter of 1 March to the Home Secretary has been passed to this department for reply since we are responsible for answering nationality enquiries from overseas. I am sorry that you have not received an earlier reply.

I can assure you that the ex-POWS to whom you refer in your letter will not become stateless on 1 July 1997 as a result of the Hong Kong agreement.

If they are British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs) by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong they will be able to acquire a new form of British nationality, British National (Overseas) (BN(0)) status, which they will be able to retain for the rest of their lives An LARS who do not acquire RN(0) status and would other. be

become Briti. Overseas citizens on 1 July

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1902.

If the ་ ་ X-POWs to whom you vier

not BDTCS they will retain whatever national status the have at the moment.

¡

resumably

As for the right of abode, the agreement guarantees the right of abode in Hong Kong after 1997 to persons who have been resident in Hong Kong for seven years or more and have taken Hong Kong as their place of residence, and to persons who before the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region only have the right of abode in Hong Kong. I believe this will cover all the ex-POWS to whom you refer. The Government do not believe that there is any justification for providing right of abode in this country to any group of BDTCs in Hong Kong who do not have it at present.

Many were

These men have as you say fought valiantly for Hong Kong. born in Hong Kong as were their parents and grandparents. All their personal and family connections are with Hong Kong and the Government hope that they will remain in the territory and continue to make a great contribution to its future. The Government believe that the Sino-British agreement provides the necessary assurances for the future which will allow the territory to continue to flourish and to maintain its unique role in the world.

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/You