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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 14010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1612
OF 131355Z NOVEMBER 92
76
YOUR TELNO 2685: ETHNIC MINORITIES
18
046743
MDHOAN 4208
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1.
HAVING CONSULTED THE HOME OFFICE, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO THE REPLY PROPOSED IN YOUR
TUR:
(I) SUGGEST YOU ADD THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE TO THE END OF (A):· AS BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO A BRITISH PASSPORT AND TO THE BENEFITS WHICH THAT CONFERS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION WORLDWIDE.
(II) REDRAFT (C) AS FOLLOWS: IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT SPECIAL PROVISION BE MADE FOR THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE NATIONALITY SCHEME. HMG BELIEVES THAT WITH THE AGREEMENT ON RIGHT OF ABODE CONTAINED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE ASSURANCES COVERING STATELESSNESS AND SITUATIONS INVOLVING PRESSURE TO LEAVE HONG KONG, IT HAS MADE FAIR PROVISION FOR THIS GROUP AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR SPECIAL PROVISIONS TO BE MADE FOR THEM UNDER THE SELECTION SCHEME. MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES WHO MEET THE CRITERIA SET OUT IN THE SELECTION SCHEME ORDER 1990 ARE OF COURSE, ABLE TO APPLY FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE SCHEME IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER HONG KONG RESIDENTS. THE POSITION OF THOSE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THOSE ARRANGEMENTS WILL, OF COURSE, DEPEND ON THEIR NATIONALITY AND ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SPECIAL PROVISION FOR THEM IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE BNS.
(III) (D) IS A MATTER FOR YOUR JUDGEMENT. BUT YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:-
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION REMAINS THE SUREST BASE FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND I AM SATISFIED THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ADEQUATE MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY. ULTIMATELY, THE QUESTION OF BRITISH NATIONALITY IS A MATTER FOR THE UK GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS
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