TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 39

Introduction

The future of the non-Chinese British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong has always been the concern of the Legislative Council. A request to make this group of people British nationals was first made in the Council in 1986 and was supported unanimously. When this was debated again in the Council on 10 March 1993, a motion in support of the House Committee Report on the subject and its recommendation to grant full British nationality to this group of non-Chinese ethnic minorities was passed unanimously by the Legislative Council.

2.

This summary sets out the plight of the non-Chinese ethnic minorities, the arguments for their protection and the recommendation of the Legislative Council.

The plight of the ethnic minorities

3. There are about 7 000 people in the category of non-Chinese ethnic minorities, possibly comprising 2 000 families, in Hong Kong holding British Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC) passports or British National (Overseas) [BN(O)] passports. They were born in Hong Kong or have resided here for many years and it is their wish to remain in Hong Kong after 1997. Although it may be possible for both the British and the Chinese Governments to make some arrangements for the ethnic minorities to reside in Hong Kong or even to become Chinese nationals after 1997, there is no certainty to their nationality after 1997.

4.

There is also the possibility of the ethnic minorities becoming stateless after 1997. As from 1 July 1997 when British sovereignty over Hong Kong comes to an end, the ethnic minorities holding BDTC passports will lose their Hong Kong BDTC status. Although they can register as BN(O) before 1 July 1997, the BN(O) status does not confer upon them full British nationality or the right of abode in the United Kingdom. The ethnic minorities do not then have any place to which they truly belong. Moreover, their descendants will be eligible for British Overseas Citizen status for only two generations, this means that their third generation might become stateless.