TNAG-2633-FCO40-3824-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-Nationality-(Hong-K-1992 — Page 34

Provisions for ethnic communities (primarily Indians) who risk

becoming stateless post 1997?

Open to all BDTCs to apply for British citizenship under

British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990.

(this is advice we're given HKG in the past

-

but do we want to subscribe to underlined? Careful consideration was given to the position of ethnic

minorities during the drafting of the Joint Declaration.

Ministers concluded - and this remains their view that the non

Chinese ethnic minorities' right of abode in the Special

Administrative Region of Hong Kong was adequately protected both

in the Joint Declaration and in the Basic Law. In addition the

Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 assures ethnic

minorities that the children and grandchildren of those who are British Dependent Territory Citizens prior to 1 July 1997 will have British Overseas citizenship if they would otherwise be

stateless.

The British government is on record that if members of the

non Chinese ethnic communities ever come under pressure to leave

Hong Kong and in the future have nowhere else to go, the government of the day would consider with particular symapthy any request for admission to the UK.

nationality.PR.JRB