TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 31

07-JUN-1995.

64 IND LIVERPOOL

44 051 336 3088

P.11

(c)

hut wor

Chinese race should remain there.

Statelessness they will not be stateless.

Those with no

nationality other than BDTC, BN (0) or BOC will retain British nationality either BN (0) or BOC - after 1997. None of their children or grandchildren will be stateless.

thechThe Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 specifically

just very

(d)

provides that the children of BDTCS (including those from the ethnic minorities) will have BOC status automatically if they would otherwise be

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.

-

Limited transmissibility the Government cannot give indefinite rights to transmit nationality from one generation to the next especially where the territory in question is non-British. Even British citizenship will not

jo point normally be transmissible beyond the first two generations

(e)

(£)

(g)

born in Hong Kong. (There are registration entitlements for the second generation born in Hong Kong but these depend upon residential links with the UK.)

Vulnerability and isolation the Chinese authorities have

said that ethnic minorities can apply for Chinese citizenship as well as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports after the change of sovereignty.

British Nationality Scheme

the Scheme was not specifically designed to help the ethnic minorities, but some of them have applied and are benefitting. Many run small businesses and such managers have been a high success rate under the Scheme. Clearly there can be no guarantees. All eligible candidates have to compete with each other for a place.

Immigration assurance repeated assurances have been given by Ministers in Parliament to the effect that if any solely British national with no claim to Chinese nationality came