TNAG-2205-FCO40-3162-Immigration-policy-changes-to-rules-1990 — Page 72

E.R.

NOTE FROM THE UK DELEGATION

HONG KONG

1.

2.

At the meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on Immigration on 12 and

13 July the Spanish delegation raised the subject of

immigration applications from Hong Kong. This paper by the

UK delegation describes the situation and the arrangements

which are being made to reduce emigration from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is at present a British Dependent Territory but will

revert to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July 1997. In 1984 the

British and Chinese Governments signed a Joint Declaration

about the future of Hong Kong in which the Chinese Government

undertook that the Hong Kong economic system would continue

under Chinese rule and that Hong Kong would become a special

administrative region within China. Among other matters the

Joint Declaration also guarantees that Hong Kong residents

will be free to travel outside China after 1997. The British

Government's primary commitment under the Joint Declaration

is to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability in the run up to 1997.

Citizenship arrangements in Hong Kong

3.

The attached table summarises the various forms of British

nationality in Hong Kong before and after 1997. Hong Kong has

a population of nearly 6 million who are mainly of Chinese

origin or descent. Chinese law regards this majority as

Chinese nationals but they can if they wish and if they have

completed a period of residence obtain Hong Kong certificates

of identity as travel documents. About 3.28 million Hong Kong

residents are also British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTC). This citizenship can be acquired by birth in Hong

Kong or by application after a period of residence there.

BDTC status acquired by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong

guarantees right of abode in Hong Kong but not right of abode

in the UK (which is only guaranteed by British Citizenship).