TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 117

05 MAR $93 16:26 HOME OFFICE SCU 051 231 1373

P.3

Wardle met several Members of the Nationality Subcommittee at the end of January but that HMG's position remains the same. They say that it might be better if they were able to refer to a more formal response from HMG.

The Government's position

4.

As Mr Wardle will recall from the briefing prepared for the meetings, the issue is focused on the 7000 persons in minority communities who have no nationality other than BDTC, BOC or BN(0). The Government's position is as follows:-

a.

b.

c.

a.

There is no case for special treatment. These people will not be stateless after 1997; they will become

either BN(0) or BOC.

None

of their children or grandchildren will be stateless -they will have BOC status if they have no

other.

They may compete on the same terms as all other British nationals in Hong Kong for the British

citizenship places on offer under the British

Nationality Scheme.

If they come under severe pressure to leave Hong Kong their case for admission to the UK will be considered

with particular sympathy.

}

5.

e.

The position

of

the ethnic

minorities has been

and adequately protected in the Joint Declaration Basic Law. They will have right of abode in Hong

Kong.

Other more recent arguments some of which were deployed by

Mr Wardle at the meetings, are:

a.

The Chinese accept that the ethnic minorities belong in Hong Kong and have made it clear that they may

*