TNAG-1570-FCO40-2136-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 131

the book could not have come out without official endorsement. If this

is the case, the view given

by this

significant. And then, the proposed

expert should be considered

resolution of dual nationality

arranged in the Sino-British Memoranda was as anticipated. The problem

will be more obvious for those who are holding a British passport and

think of themselves as a British subject,

Hong Kong politics with liberal and

Conclusion

but are actively involved in

critical views of their own.

be reaffirm here. Firstly,

To conclude, several points need to

this paper demonstrates that the PRC has consistently not recognized the

legal status of Chinese British subjects in Hong Kong, since she came to

power in 1949.

is evident in various ways. The most

Non-recognition

obvious is to call Hong Kong Chinese compatriots, not accepting their

British passport for a visa application, to issue them a "certificate of

compatriot" instead for travelling purpose, to claim Hong Kong as her

sovereign territories and its people as her natinals

through diplomatic channels.

be

periodically

Secondly, this non-recognition policy has political purposes,

mainly to stop any potential Hong Kong independent movement, which can

legitimized by Hong Kong people if they are recognized as British

subjects by China. Also, by non-recognition, the PRC can influence Hong

Kong politics, preventing her enemies for using Hong Kong as a base to

launch political campaigns against her,

enemy of the Kuomintang in Hong Kong.

especially the great

potential

Thirdly, this

traditional roots.

non-recognition policy has its

Historically, both her predecessors,

historical

and

Kuomintang, followed the practice discouraging,

if not

Ching and the

denying, the

naturalization of Chinese by foreign powers.

Very often the status of

denaturalized Chinese in Chinese

territories

would not be accepted

42