Right of Abode
Annex A
British citizens have not had automatic right of abode in Hong Kong ever. (Before 1972 British citizens were given unconditional stay administratively on landing, but that was The main ended then, with no complaints as far as we know.) distinction on Right of Abode is between actually say, Canada and Australia as the latter does not allow dual nationality, som Australians cannot become BDTCS and thus get right of abode (Australia has in fact just dropped this apparently to allow Australian 'expat' civil servants to become 'local'; but most countries still do not allow dual nationality).
However, British citizens retain an automatic statutory right to land in Hong Kong after they have resided in Hong Kong continuously for seven years, and this is arguably of more significance, to people who have right of abode somewhere else in any case. Other non-Chinese foreign nationals may also obtain the privilege of unconditional stay in Hong Kong after seven years' continuous residence. But this is a substantially 'lesser privilege as can be seen from the following table.
A Resident British Citizen having Right to Land
(a)
the right is statutory
(b)
the right is acquired automatically after completion of seven residence
(c) once acquired, the right
will not be taken away
(d) does not need permission to
land and will not be subject to any condition of stay
(e) has the right not to have a
removal order made against him
A Resident Foreign National on Unconditional Stay
the privilege is only given by the Director of Immigration administratively
the privilege is only given on application after completion of seven years' residence
the privilege will be lost if holder leaves Hong Kong for more than 12 months
still needs permission to land but once permitted to their stay will not be subject to conditions
still liable to be removed by removal orders
G
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