Nationality
In response to the confidence crisis of Hong Kong people arising from the Peking massacre of 1989, the British Government offered 'full' British citizenship to 50.000 key Hong Kong people and their families. It was then estimated, that some 225,000 Hong Kong people would benefit, based on an average of 4.5 people per household.
At the end of 1992, 55,101 people had been registered as British citizens under the scheme, including 20,001 heads of households and 35,100 dependants. Thus, whereas the British government had, in devising the scheme, projected 3.5 dependants for each head of household, the figure has in practice been less than 1.8. By present indications, the scheme will benefit only some 138,000 Hong Kong people, rather than 225,000 as originally envisaged.
More than 3 million Hong Kong people are British subjects whose citizenship rights have been eroded over the years. As Hong Kong people are being handed back to another sovereign state without choice, Britain can only discharge her responsibility towards her subjects by restoring them full British nationality.
Bio-data
Christine Loh
Appointed legislator, business executive and long time lobbyist for democracy, human rights and the environment.
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