TNAG-1849-FCO40-2624-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 70

24 MAY '89 23:41

FROM COI TECH RADIO

TRANSCRIPT K

G

SELECT COMMITTER ON HONG KONG 24 MAY 1989

FROM BGMG FOR COI RADIO TECHNICAL SERVICES

TRANSCRIPT OF MEETING OF

SELECT COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 1989

TRANSCRIPT K (CONTINUED FROM TRANSCRIPT J)

PAGE.03-056

MR RENTON:

First one has to say, I have to say, that this is a

particular problem, Mr Chairman, that we have not heard of

before because it is directed to what is happening in Hong

Kong. It is something you may think it more appropriate

to talk about with the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary,

But insofar as non-ethnic Chinese, they would have

the right of abode in Hong Kong. That is actually

guaranteed to them, is it not, under Article 14, page 23

of the Draft Agreement, and they will also qualify for BOC

status for two generations, the generation of the

applicant and two further generations.

It is also the case that there is the right for the

Home Secretary, at his discretion, to grant BOC status to

any descendant of a previous BOC if evidence is brought

that that person might become stateless.