HONG KONG NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL
POINTS FOR CRITICISM
7.
PROVISIONS FOR REDUCING STATELESSNESS
CRITICISM
1.
People who risk being stateless, particularly the ethnic
Indian community in Hong Kong should be granted British citizenship,
which gives them the right of abode in the UK and which can be
passed on to their children.
PROVISION INTHE ORDER
2.
Under Article 6, those BDTCs who might for any reason
become stateless would automatically become British Overseas citizens
(without the right of abode in the UK); any of their children who
would otherwise be stateless would also be BOCS; and their grand-
children
stateless would be entitled
if born
for registration as BOCs.
apply
Line to Take
3.
The granting of British citizenship is unnecessary to provide
a citizenship status for people in Hong Kong who would otherwise
be stateless; and it would provide no guarantee of right of abode
in Hong Kong after 1997. British Overseas citizenship is an entirel
adequate and fitting status in the circumstances.
It cannot, of
course, guarant es right of abode in Hong Kong. But that is
guaranteed under the Joint Declaration. A right of abode elsewhere
is not therefore necessary.
Background
4.
This is
controversial issue
It particularly affects non-ethnic Chinese BDTCs and their
descendents who the Chinese do not
at present regard as their
nationals. Representations have been made to Government supporters and
other members by the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations.
These are supported by all the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils of Hong Kong.
E.11
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