TNAG-2943-FCO40-4219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 23

11/104

BACKGROUND NOTES

11 651

LORD BONHAM-CARTER'S HONG KONG BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL

The Bill is directed primarily at Hong Kong's ethnic minorities. There are about 24,000 non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, of whom about 7000 have only British Dependent Territories

citizenship (BDTC). Since the mid-1980s there has been pressure to give them British citizenship, which the Government has

consistently resisted.

2.

There are about 6 million people living in Hong Kong of whom 34 million are Brilish Dependent Territories citizens. British Nationality Selection Scheme introduced in 1990 provides for 50,000 heads of households together with their families to acquire British citizenship. The rest of the population will be able to convert their BDTC citizenship to British Nationality (Overseas), a nationality status specifically created for the

Hong Kong situation. Any British national who fails to register for this and has no other nationality automatically become

British Overseas citizen.

3. The ethnic minorities can apply under the Selection Scheme.

They are not being treated any differently from the rest of the

are not being given any British Hong Kong population and

preferential treatment.

The great

4. A number have been successful under the Scheme. majority, however, could only achieve British citizenship if new