TNAG-2943-FCO40-4219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 18

-1993

11:37

B4 IND LIVERPOOL

44 051 336 3386

P.04

Meanwhile, my Lords, the ethnic minorities will continue to have

right of abode in Hong Kong. The Joint Declaration and article

24(6) of the Basic Law guarantee the ethnic minorities the right

of abode in Hong Kong if they do not have a right of abode

elsewhere.

The ethnic minorities have no right of abode elsewhere at the

moment. This position will be no different after 1997. In the

Government's view there is no reason why the change of

sovereignty should be seen as so threatening to this particular group that they should now be given special treatment in the form

of right of abode in the United Kingdom. Most of the Hong Kong

population will have only the same rights of abode after 1997 as

before. The vast majority will not have right of abode here.

We see no reason why the ethnic minorities should feel vulnerable

or isolated after 1997. The Beijing authorities have said that

they are welcome to remain and that it is open to them to apply

for Chinese citizenship.

Rather disparaging remarks have been made about the status of

British National (Overseas) or British Overseas citizen which the

ethnic minorities would have after 1997. The British Government,

though, do not accept that those nationality statuses are in any

way inferior to the BDTC status which

to the BDTC status which the ethnic minorities

currently enjoy. There are over 1 million people in the world

with British Overseas citizen status and the British Overseas

citizen passport is well established. I would point out to your

3