TNAG-1840-FCO40-2615-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 80

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)

also states that those Chinese nationals (previously

called BDTCs) who hold British travel documents may

continue to use them after 30 June 1997. Such persons

will not of course be entitled to British consular

protection in the Hong Kong SAR or in other parts of

China.

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Hong

58. Neither the BDTC passport nor the BN (0) passport

confers upon the holder the right of abode in the United

Kingdom (although he is entitled to enter this country

without a visa for visits of up to three months).

Kong people first became subject to UK immigration

control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962. The

Immigration Act of 1971, which defined "right of abode"

for the first time, in essence granted that right to

those British nationals with direct links with the UK.

Most Hong Kong British nationals did not qualify for the

right of abode in the UK. The British Nationality Act

1981, which created the status of BDTC, did not affect

the existing position concerning immigration control and

the right of abode. The fact that Hong Kong people are

subject to UK immigration control and do not have right

of abode here is thus not new.

59. Despite the importance which Hong Kong people

attach to a clear recognition by the Government of the

United Kingdom's responsibility for and special

connection with Hong Kong, most Hong Kong people accept

the reality of the situation. There have nevertheless

been some calls for Hong Kong passport holders to be