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I appreciate the contribution to Hong Kong's
success made by the ethnic minority group you represent
and understand their concern over the change of
sovereignty in 1997. But their status seems LO RC not
be in danger.
to
Your principal concern centres on the possible
statelessness of those who are now Hong Kong British
Dependent Territories Citizens. British Dependent.
Territories Citizens will not lose their British
nationality on 1 July 1997. They can obtain British
National (Overseas) passports (which last beyond 1997)
be re that date, or simply become British Overseus
Citizens automatically on that date. In either case, they
do not become stateless. After 1997 if British National
(Overseas) or British Overseas Citizen passport holders do
not have the right of abode elsewhere, they will have Lhe
right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region. This is provided for under the Joint Declaration
and reflected in Article 24(2)() of the Basic Law. They
will be able to retain theix British nationality. They
will be eligible for British passport facilities and also,
provided they are not also Chinese nationals, for British
/
consular protection in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region itself.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.