STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARIS (a), (b), (c), (d), (e)
* (F) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.143 FOR 25.7.1991
origin
in
***
British
Dependent
Indian
Territories
Passports.
(a). (b) & (c) :
There are about 5000 persons of
Hong Kong who hold either
Citizenship (BDTC) or British National (Overseas) (BN(0))
issued by the British Government. These persons are part of a
group
(British
of
approximately
status 3.25 million persons with similar
Dependent
Kong. The
holders
of these documents
Territory Citizenship/British National (Overseas)) in
not entitled
Hong
are
to
the
category
of
Hong
automatic right of abode in the United Kingdom. This
persons is, however, expected to qualify for continued abode in
Kong after the territory reverts to Chinese sovereignty in 1977.
(d), (e) & (f)
British
Government of
The matter has been raised with the
It has been the consistent position of the
basic
Government.
India that the British Government has
responsibility
towards this group of persons and that it should
necessary
steps to safeguard the status of these persons
as
British
take
citizens.
N
***
Uncorrected/Not for publication
वत्रा/1115/25•7/डो - 1 MRY
8 प्रश्न संख्या 1438
solanki
Describes
8 श्री माधव सिंह सोलंकी -- जा
3468
वे अव ब्रिटिश नेशनल ओवरसीज़ का पासपोर्ट ले लें । उस पासपोर्ट की मुदत भी उन्होंने बतायी है कि 30 जून, 1997 तक यह पास-
haपोर्ट ले लेना चाहिये । वह पासपोर्ट ले लेने से वह झिटिश नेशनल was Hong Kong Indions resulting
ओवरसीज़ माना जायेगा और ब्रिटिश गवर्नमेंट ने चाईनीज़ गवर्नमेंट
from Sing British
& as repented Enghil
in
below)
के साथ जो समझोता किया है, उसके गुताविक चाईनीज़ गवर्नमेंट ने यह भी जाहिर किया है कि
यों के द्वारा निवेश का पास पोर्ट होगा, ब्रिटिश नेशनल ओवरसीज़ का और जो सावित करेगे कि सात साल से वे हांगकांग में रहते है तो उनको हांगकांग में रहने का अधिकार होगा 1 May I read out the exact words?
reads as follows:
T‡
"The Chinese Government's point of view
was that Indians, whether holding Indian passports or British passports or BDTC / BN (O) passports can continue to live and work in Hong Kong if they satisfied the condition of sevenyears continuous stay in the territory which enables them to qualify for permanent residence in Hong Kong.
#1
Incorrected/Not for publication
(SUMMARY TRANSLATION FROM HINDI BEGINS:)
Vajpayee (BJP):
The allocation of separate status for British nationals of Indian origin in Hong Kong is wrong and amounts to racial discrimination. Why does the GOI have nothing to say about dual citizenship?
Solanki (Minister for External Affairs):
We are discussing the position of British Indian citizens in Hong Kong. Dual citizenship is a separate matter which requires due consideration, and no decisions have yet been taken. But Vajpayee has said one thing clearly, that Indians living in Hong Kong have a right to British citizenship, but the British Government have not agreed to this.
(SUMMARY TRANSLATION FROM HINDI ENDS)
(Solanhi continues in English)
They refused to give British citizenship to these people; they only give them status; and for that,
they issued them passports.
Shri Atel Bihari Vajpayee: Does the hon. Minister agree
with my view that the attitude of the British
Government is that of racial discrimination?
Shri Saifuddin Choudhury: There is no doubt about it.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.