TNAG-2185-FCO40-3122-Ethnic-minorities-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 208

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)

group as a special category within the scheme: the non

ethnic Chinese minorities will be eligible to apply for

British citzenship under the scheme and each application

will be treated on its merits.

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

As you know, in recognition of the particular

concerns of the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, the

Government have already taken steps to reassure them

about their positioin after 1997. We have made provision

for the children and grandchildren of former BDTCs born

after 1997 to acquire British Overseas Citizenship if

they would otherwise be stateless. And we have also

given a specific assurance in Parliament that if, against

all expectations, the ethnic minorities came under

pressure to leave Hong Kong in the future, and had

nowhere to go, we would expect the government of the day

to consider their case for admission here with

considerable and particular sympathy. We stand by that

undertaking.

Although these are significant reassurances,

I know

that our latest decision will nevertheless be a

disappointment to you and your colleagues in the Council

of Hong Kong Indian Association. I am sorry that we have

been unable to do more.