TNAG-1566-FCO40-2131-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 87

MAY.07 '86 16:31 GMT HO 2 LUNAR HOUSE

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the British Nationality Act 1981. We will give sympathetic consideration to

applications under this provision from any of these former servicemen who are

eligible. The remaining 210 or so are not eligible under this provision. But

my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary has agreed that any of the 270 (including the

60 who may apply for British citizenship) may come here for settlement if they wish,

together with their dependants. Once settled here, they will, of course, be eligible

to apply for British citizenship in the normal way. We are glad that the Unofficial

Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils have accepted these arrangements

as a fitting recognition of the service these people have given to Hong Kong, and

we are pleased to have been able to mark their special contribution in this way.

10.

We do not, however, believe it would be right to grant the request on behalf

of those British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong who are not ethnically

Chinese and who have no other form of citizenship. We considered their position

very carefully and indeed sympathetically. We accept our responsibility to them

and we wanted to make absolutely sure that we met it in the best and fairest way

possible fair, not only to those citizens in Hong Kong but to others in Hong Kong

and throughout the world. The British Dependent Territories citizens who are not

ethnically Chinese have made it plain they want to continue to live and work in

Hong Kong and to have a citizenship status that will allow them to continue to travel

to other countries. And they are concerned about their children and grandchildren.

Our arrangements meet fully and precisely each of these concerns.

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11.

British citizenship cannot secure anyone's future in Hong Kong after 1997.

This has been secured in the only way possible through the agreement with the

Chinese, The agreement which guarantees that right of abode is internationally

binding, and its provisions will be written into a basic law of the Hong Kong

Special Administrative region. The future of the non-ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong

will therefore be secured as a matter of national and international law.

12.

Furthermore, British citizenship would not benefit third and subsequent

generations born after 1997 any more than British Overseas citizenship. British

citizenship can generally be acquired by only two generations born abroad.

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