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DRAFT
NOTE FROM THE UK DELEGATION
HONG KONG
not quite
true!
Same as uk-borm in HK-one or both
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
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
The attached table summarises the various
various forms of British
nationality in Hong Kong before and after 1997. Hong Kong has
Millium a population of [5.7m who are mainly of Chinese origin or descent. Many have no citizenship but can if they wish obtain certificates of identity as
of identity as travel documents. About 3.25m
Hong Kong residents are however British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTC). This citizenship is acquired automatically by birth in Hong Kong or can be applied for by virtue of residence in Hong Kong. It guarantees right of abode in Hong Kong but not right of abode in the UK (which is only
guaranteed by British Citizenship). BDTCS are thus not
European Community nationals. [Can 34 or B6 improve this
Prants HIC resulent saying something about the declaration we have made to the EC
about our nationalities?]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.