CONFIDENTIAL
and to the Chinese that
genuine review in 1987, Hong Kong opinion on proceeding cautiously in developing Hong Kong's existing political system
with full regard to dangers of
we are committed to a full and
which must take full account of
the issues raised; but that we
are
instability and need for pre- and post-1997 systems to be compatible
NATIONALITY
are
The Order in Council made on 5 June 1986 under the
terms of the Hong Kong Act 1985 provides for persons who
to British Hong Kong
Dependent Territories citizens
lose that status on 1
to July 1997 but to be entitled
that date acquire before
a new status, to be known as
National (Overseas) together with а British
British
passport
that recording
status.
The
Order also makes
It provides for
lose that
provision to guard against statelessness any British Dependent Territories citizens who
status
1 on
July 1997 automatically to
British become
Overseas citizens if they have not acquired BN (O) status and if they would otherwise be stateless The children of former Hong Kong BDTCs born on or after that date will also
be British Overseas citizens
if automatically at birth
otherwise stateless. The grandchildren of former Hong Kong BDTCS will be entitled to be registered as British Overseas
citizens if born stateless.
Ministers did not accede to this request of LegCo
that ethnic minority BDTCs should be
British granted citizenship. They took the view that the provisions of the Joint Declaration and the Order in Council met fully the
of this community to have both a recognised
abode nationality status
in secure right of a
to
to continue
live.
concern
where
Hong
However
and
Kong,
want they Ministers have stated in Parliament that they would
consider it
future government any future
obligation upon any an
to
treat with very considerable and particular sympathy the case for admission to the United Kingdom of any individual
CONFIDENTIAL
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