TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 108

DOGABK

CONFIDENTIAL

-

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO INDIA, 30 MARCH 2 APRIL

HONG KONG

NATIONAL I TY ETHNIC MINORITIES

-

Points to Make (Defensive)

1.

Ethnic Minorities Should Be Registered

Ministers

taken.

2.

are

still considering

very

A s

carefully.

British Citizens

No

They Will Be Stateless Under Current Proposals

decision yet

No. Non-Chinese BDTCs and two generations born after 1997 will be

able to acqui re

(Overseas)

a

form of

ог

British

British nationality,

Overeas Citizen and

either

British

retain

i t

for

National

.....

life.

3. Third Generation Will Be Stateless

British citizenship would not help this because British

cannot be

than

citizenship

abroad.

if they

next

they have not already

for more transmitted

born two generations Believe right Course for those in Hong Kong towards middle of

for Chinese nationality

century to apply

done so by then.

4.

They Could Transmit By Having Children In UK

Only

of

maintaining British

those wealthy enough could do so. Not right

right to create a

could citizenship only wealthy

to afford

transmit. Also goes

overseas to avoid against principle of our BNA which is

while citizenship indefinitely

form

communities

any

British

connection recedes into the past.

5. Can They Apply For Chinese Nationality?

We raised this with Chinese at Joint Liaison Group meeting in Peking

last November. Chinese confirmed that non-Chinese may apply

for

Chinese nationality and appropriate authorities.

that such

cases

would

by be dealt with

the

CONFIDENTIAL