TNAG-2487-FCO40-3618-Future-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1992 — Page 176

8

The Right to Self-Determination (Chapter V)

There are issues essentially for Her Majesty's Government. HMG's position on these issues is well understood.

The Secretary for Constitutional Affairs comments -

"The right to self-determination

Interests of Hong Kong people were taken into full

account during the negotiation of the JD. The

Sino-British agreement was promulgated for

The JD has been widely

draft

public consultation.

accepted by Hong Kong people."

Rights of abode in the UK (Chapter VI). The Commission expresses the belief that all Hong Kong permanent residents have the right to self determination but limits

recommendations to Hong Kong British Dependent Territory

Citizens.

The Commission

the ethnic

recommends that two groups of such citizens minorities who do not have a right of abode

elsewhere and children born outside the United Kingdom

before 1 January 1983 to Hong Kong parents who acquired British citizenship by residence in the United Kingdom

before that date

should be given an immediate right of abode in the United Kingdom. While Hong Kong Government is sympathetic to the recommendation in respect of both groups it appears that the United Kingdom Government proposes to adopt a "wait and see" attitude in relation to the ethnic

minorities. The Hong Kong Government has supported the

representations of

but the latest

shortly before

officials in the

concession.

Dr C M Leong on behalf of the children,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office telegram,

the General Election, indicated that

Home Office were opposed to any special