TNAG-2943-FCO40-4219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 5

no intention of scheduling the Bill for a second reading in

the Commons when this stage is reached.

4. I attach the draft Hansard for the debate. Arguments

advanced in favour of the Bill are familiar. There were 7

Speakers, in addition to Lord Bonham Carter, in favour of the

Bill including Lord Geddes and Lord Wilson. Lord Wilson, in a

short intervention, made the point that British citizenship

for the ethnic minorities had the unanimous support of the

Legislative Council and that, while he accepts that it would have been divisive to have included a special category under the British Nationality package, the situation had now moved

on and special arrangements are appropriate.

5. Lord Bonham Carter described the Bill as being necessary

because of the "racist" nature of Chinese nationality law and

because BN (0) status "provides nothing more than a British

travel document, it provides neither the right of abode outside Hong Kong nor the right of consular protection within

China". Lord St John also referred to BN (0) as a status not

giving British consular protection in mainland China. Earl

Ferrers did not put on record the correct position that holders of BN (0) passports who are not of Chinese race will be eligible for consular protection both in the SAR and in

mainland China.

K

W Barnes Jows.

Deborah Barnes Jones

min.bonham.NAT

JEB