TNAG-1566-FCO40-2131-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 103

CONFIDENTIAL

the guarantees of right of abode in Hong Kong after 1997 provided in the Agreement with the People's Republic of China, and through the provision of British Overseas citizenship status for any who would otherwise be stateless, down to the second generation born after 1997. British citizenship would not strengthen the position of these communities in Hong Kong. If any British national were in the future to come under pressure to leave Hong Kong we would expect the

Government

the case of the

consider sympathetically day to

admission to the United Kingdom.

for

clarified and

improved.

for

We

We believe our response to the Legislative Council has shown that we pay close attention to the views expressed by the Council and the people of Hong Kong and that, as a result, the nationality

have been provisions

Hong Kong have believe it would be right now to put in place the nationality provisions which have been extensively discussed in Parliament and can continue without in Hong Kong So that detailed planning work delay. I intend therefore to lay the draft Order in Council before the House in the next few days.

CONFIDENTIAL

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