TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 143

ME2 AHZ

History

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG: BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS):

FACILITATING TRAVEL TO THIRD COUNTRIES

DRAFT

MEMORANDUM BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEAL TH OFFICE

THE NATIONALITY PROVISIONS OF THE HONG KONG ACT 1985

ORDER IN COUNCIL

1.

During the negotiations

between the British and Chinese

status when

1997. The

Governments which were concluded by the signing of the Sino-British

Joint Declaration on the question of Hong Kong on 19 December 1984,

a major concern expressed by Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens was that they might lose their British national

Hong Kong reverted to Chinese Sovereignty on 1 July

British Government therefore negotiated an exchange of memoranda

with the Chinese Government under which Hong Kong BDTCs could

acquire a new form of British Nationality which they could retain

for life; they could use British passports showing their new

status

and would qual i fy for British Consular Protection in third

countries. In addition, under Section XIV of Annex I to the Joint

Declaration, as residents of the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, they were guaranteed the right of abode in Hong Kong and freedom of travel. The Hong Kong Nationality Order in

Council has been passed to enable the United Kingdom to implement

the Joint Declaration and associated UK memorandum.

Legislation

The Order in Council was published in draft on 17 October

It was debated in Parliament in January and March

and March 1986 and

finally approved in [... 1986].

2.

1985.

CONFIDENTIAL