TNAG-2182-FCO40-3119-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

BACKGROUND

References:

A.

Secretary of State's statement of 20

NATIONALITY

B.

C.

D.

December 1989.

Secretary of State's letter to the President of the Council of Hong Kong

Indian Associations.

Extract from House of Lords' Hansard 1986

Teleletter dated 12 April from New Delhi.

A

B

C

1. The Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations lobbied

long and hard for HMG to grant automatic British citizenship to the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. They

have expressed disappointment that no special provision has been made under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act.

They are concerned that they could become stateless after

1997. The Government has taken several measures to

safeguard their position.

2.

Special provision was made, under the Hong Kong (British

Nationality) Order 1986, for the ethnic minorities who

might otherwise be stateless to be granted British Overseas

Citizenship for two generations beyond 1997.

3. The Government also gave an assurance in Parliament in 1986 that it would consider it an obligation upon any future government to treat with consideration and sympathy the case

for admission to UK of any solely British national who came

under pressure to leave Hong Kong.

4.

We have thus far refrained from lobbying the Indian

Government as part of our general exercise to encourage other countries to give assurances to Hong Kong people, despite the ethnic connection. Our High Commission advised

against raising the matter during Lord Brabazon's visit to

SUYANU/2

CONFIDENTIAL