TNAG-1568-FCO40-2134-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 102

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HISTORY

ANNEX TO LETTER TO HEADS OF MISSION

HONG KONG: BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS):

FACILITATING TRAVEL TO THIRD COUNTRIES

1.

During the negotiations between the British and Chinese Governments which were concluded by the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong on 19 December 1984, a major concern expressed by Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCS) was that they might lose their British nationality when Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July 1997.

The

British Government therefore negotiated with the Chinese

Government an exchange of memoranda associated with the

Joint Declaration. The effect of the UK memorandum is that

Hong Kong BDTCS can acquire a new form of British nationality which they can retain for life: they can use British passports showing their new status and will qualify for British consular protection in third countries.

addition, under Section XIV of Annex I to the Joint

Declaration, as residents of the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, they are guaranteed the right of abode in Hong Kong (see paragraph 10 below) and freedom of

travel. The Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 has been made to enable the United Kingdom to implement the Joint Declaration and associated UK memorandum.

In