TNAG-1991-FCO40-2831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Nationality-(Hong-Kong)-Selectio-1990 — Page 86

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HKD 340/18.

Ah Chi said two HK drafters dere now working on the details. They were trying to convince other members to win their support.

On the nationality issue, Tong Yuk-hon said in Ta Kung Pao that in recent months, Omelco members had spent considerable time "änd effort to fight for the right of abode in the UK for HK people. However, their requests were not consistent.

At first, they sent a delegation to Britain to press for right of abode in the UK for the 3 million NK British passport holders. Later, they said they would fight for all HK people, including the non British passport holders. Recently, another delegation went to Britain to request the restoration of British citizenship for HK British passport holders. There were marked differences in these

requests.

Tong said Chinese nationality law did not provide for any restriction on Chinese citizens acquiring right of abode in foreign countries. Therefore it seemed that it was alright for Chinese citizens residing in HK to be given the right of abode in the UK.

Tong added that there would be no problem for those holding Certificates of Identity to be granted the right of abode in the UK. However, since the British Government had stated in the memorandum to the Chinese Government in 1984 that K people holding British Dependent Territories Citizen passports would not have right of abode in the UK, should there be any change in this position, the British Government should give an explanation to the Chinese Government.

Should all HK British passport holders be given British citizenship as requested by the Omelco delegation, then the position stated by the Chinese Government in its Memorandum to the British Government would be contradicted, stated that all HK Chinese peopl not, would be Chinese nationals. law, Chinese citizens residing in able to acquire foreign nationality before having given up their Chinese nationality upon application.

ong said. The Chinese Memorandum whether they held BDTC passports or According to Chinese nationality Chinese territories would not be

Tong said according to the Joint Declaration, Chinese civil servants who held BDTC passports were Chinese national and could stay in the civil service and be promoted to secretary level. However, if they were given British citizenship, their Chinese national status would be lost and they would not be able to rise to secretary level.

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