TNAG-1842-FCO40-2617-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 82

WHY IS BN(0) STATUS NOT TRANSMISSIBLE?

Parliament had full opportunity to debate Hong Kong

(Nationality) Order 1986 which created BN (0) status. Accepted that it would not be reasonable to provide for people born in territory which will no longer be British to be granted British nationality for unlimited period into future.

Majority of people in Hong Kong will become Chinese nationals (and under Chinese nationality law already are). But provision was made for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong who might otherwise be stateless to be granted British Overseas Citizenship for two generations beyond 1997.