TNAG-2939-FCO40-4215-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 69

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from the ethnic minorities) will have BOC status if they would

otherwise be stateless and that their grandchildren will have an

entitlement to acquire this status by registration if the

grandparents were BDTCS other than by descent. Those who are not

BDTCS but wish to secure right of abode before 1997 may do so by

applying to become BDTCs.

C.

If any solely British national with no claim to Chinese

nationality came under severe pressure to leave Hong Kong the

British government of the day would consider with particular

sympathy their case for admission to the United Kingdom.

Repeated assurances to this effect have been given by Ministers

on various Hong Kong Parliamentary occasions.

d. Provided they hold some form of British nationality or have

applied for registration or naturalisation as BDTCs by virtue of

a connection with Hong Kong, the ethnic minorities have the same

chance as everybody else in Hong Kong to compete for the British

citizenship places on offer under the British Nationality Scheme.

(We have no figures to show their success under the scheme.

Information is not collected on an ethnic basis).

Hong Kong's misgivings

have heard these arguments

6. The legislative councillors have heard

several times before and it is clear from the record of the 18

November debate that they are not convinced. They remain

doubtful about right of abode in Hong Kong; they are dissatisfied