TNAG-1843-FCO40-2618-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 84

to allow maximum time for third countries to get used to the new nationality status. The new BN (0) status will be acquired by former

Hong Kong BDTCS only if they obtain a British passport in that

status before 1 July 1997. The Government launched a major

diplomatic campaign to secure worldwide acceptance of the new document as a fully valid British passport. No country has said that it will not recognise the new BN (O) pasport.

57.

The position of the Chinese Government as stated in the Chinese

Memorandum is that all Hong Kong Chinese compatriots are Chinese

nationals. But the Memorandum 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.

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). Hong 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

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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 given right of abode in the United Kingdom, and comparisons have been made with treatment by Portugal of its nationals in Macao. It has been argued that such a move would serve as a sanction against any violation of the Joint