TNAG-2920-FCO40-4195-Visits-and-proposed-visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of--1993 — Page 54

-1993 19:47

U COLER! INCHIT

I C

BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP

Background

1898

9.05

British overseas Citizen (BOC) status came into existence in 1983 with the commencement of the British Nationality Act 1981 for a very small minority of people who were previously Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, who did not become British Citizens or British Dependent Territories Citizens.

2.

BOC status will become the residual option in 1997 for ex-Hong Kong BDTCS who do not wish to become BN (0)s or Chinese nationals, and have no other

nationality. All ethnic Chinese will become Chinese nationals in 1997 automatically and will not be stateless;

therefore DOC status should not apply to them. ethnic minorities who do not choose to integrata in Hong

Kong as BN(0)s and have lost or given up their other malionality (e.g. Indian) will become DOCS automatically

on the lapsing of the BDTC status.

3.

Only tho

Recently there have been accusations that the real motive for launching the phased programme for applications for BN (0)s, was to prevent BDTCs from

becoming BOCS. It has been suggested that BOCs would have

a better opportunity to enter UK. It was even suggested

that BDTCs could render themselves stateless after 1997 by

making a statutory declaration that they have no other

nationality than BDTC.

4.

The issue has been raised by Legislative Council

and Executive Council members.

Line to Take

5.

After 1 June 1997, Hong Kong Chinese will

become DN(0)5, if they have applied beforehand, and

Chinese nationals, They will not become stateless.

BOC status is thus irrelevant to them.

The

6.

equal.

In general, the rights of BN(0)s and BOCs are

Neither has right of abode in the UK after 1997.