LB 2 ABO
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Mr Charles Solomon
1 Willow Croft
Upper Poppleton
York
YD2 6 EE
Telephone 01- 233 4475
Your reference
Our reference
Date
6 March 1986
AKW 040/4.
- 7 MAR 1985
DISK OFFICER
P..
EGISTRY
on Taken
в
letter of
22 January
(316.
ра
Thank
you
for
your
to the Minister of
State about Hong Kong. I have been asked to reply.
is
new
The people to whom you refer form part of the population of 31/4 million British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong who will lose that status in 1997,
in 1997, when sovereignty over Hong Kong transferred to China, but who will be entitled to acquire the
of status
British National (Overseas). The 10,000 or SO non-ethnic Chinese, unlike the great majority of British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong, will not be regarded by the
They have therefore asked
rather citizenship
they would otherwise become
Chinese
as
granted (Overseas) 1997.
their nationals. British
if status
was
T
than
to British National
be
stateless
in
in 1997 The
Parliament. request careful in which to lay the implement
The ethnic minorities concern over
their position
echoed in recent
in debates
both Houses of Government has undertaken to give their consideration before deciding on the final form before
the draft Order
Order in Council to relevant nationality provisions.
Parliament
It is, as you know, the Government's clear policy that, at a time of high unemployment in economic recession, primary immigration to
I severely this country should be
restricted and I can this point. appreciate your concern on
assure you that the
Government
remains committed
policy
but fair of firm immigration control.
to a
A F Bedford
Hong Kong Department
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