WOZAOR (2)
(b) WHY NOT CHANGE LAW TO GIVE HONG KONG PEOPLE RIGHT OF ABODE IN
UK?
-
Provisions of law, including implications for Hong Kong, have
been thoroughly aired and debated in Parliament.
We have no plans to amend British Nationality Act or
Immigration Act.
Doubt it would be acceptable to Parliament, or public at large, to grant right of abode here to all Hong Kong British nationals.
(c) CHINESE ATTITUDE TO EC PASSPORTS FOR HONG KONG CHINESE?
Have had no discussions with Chinese on this subject. But nationality is sensitive matter for Chinese. Their position set out
in memorandum associated with Joint Declaration.
Chinese view is that all "Hong Kong Chinese compatriots" are
Chinese nationals.
(d) 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.
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