distort the careful and co-operative planning work which we will continue to carry
out in the years ahead, on the basis that the future of the people of Hong Kong
will continue to lie there.
18. We therefore consider our proposals to be the right ones and to be the best
and most responsible way to meet all our commitments. They ensure that no former
British Dependent Territories citizen, nor any child or grandchild born after 1997
to such a person, need fear statelessness. Of course, all Hong Kong British
Dependent Territories citizens, whatever their ethnic origin, will be entitled
to British National (Overseas) status. But any who do not become British Nationals
(Overseas) will automatically become British Overseas citizens on 1 July 1997 if
they would otherwise be stateless. So too will any children born on or after
1 July 1997 to former British Dependent Territories citizens if they would
otherwise be stateless. And grandchildren of former British Dependent Territories
citizens will be entitled to be registered as British Overseas citizens if they
are born stateless.
therefore
19. These arrangements provide for a form of British nationality for Hong Kong
British Dependent Territories citizens and their children until well into the middle
of the next century. We believe that by then it will be right for those who will
have been living in this area for many years to apply for Chinese nationality.
The Chinese government have confirmed that non-Chinese who meet the legal
requirements may apply for Chinese nationality and that such cases would be dealt
with by the appropriate authorities. Clearly we cannot expect the Chinese
government, any more than any other government, to make commitments about
individual cases so far in advance. But we intend to explore this further with
them in the course of our continuing discussions.
The
20. We must, of course, make judgements now in the light of present circumstances.
If these were to change, there would no doubt be many things to reconsider.
government have, however, already made it plain, and I am happy to repeat again
now, that if any British national came under pressure to leave Hong Kong we would
expect the government of the day to consider sympathetically their case for
admission to the United Kingdom. I am sure the whole House will want to endorse
this commitment. The assurance it offers, together with the nationality provisions
ethnic
minority
and the right of abode guarantees, provide the
communities in Hong Kong with the highest possible degree of security and confidence in the future.
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