TNAG-1991-FCO40-2831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Nationality-(Hong-Kong)-Selectio-1990 — Page 106

1.

heading:

機密

CONFIDENTIAL

Right of Abode: Chinese attitude

Ik Telow 3125

reles

(12

cc Mr Edwards

Legal Advises

Mr Paul

Three questions need to be considered under this ms major

HID 340/18

нко

Mr Mums:

v. helpline.

Will the UK nationality package be compatible with

a)

the Joint Declaration?

b)

PM.

What will the Chinese attitude be?

c)

What would we like the Chinese attitude to be?

Compatibility with the Joint Declaration

2.

If the Hong Kong nationality package will involve the granting of British citizen passports, it will not conflict with the UK Memorandum associated with the Joint Declaration. The UK Memorandum only refers to persons who on 30 June 1997 are BDTCS: it would not be possible for them to become BNOS with a right of abode in the UK.

3.

If the UK package involves the granting of entry permits to BDTCS, it would also not conflict with the UK Memorandum because the right to enter in that case would not derive from BDTC status per se.

Chinese attitude

4.

On 27 March 1989 Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen indicated that Britain's decision on how many Hong Kong people would be granted citizenship was an internal affair of the British Government. Since then Chinese spokesmen have said that the British package must be in accordance with the Hong Kong pact. Publicly, Chinese officials have not gone beyond these two points.

CONFIDENTIAL

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