§ 4. Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on the proposed Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Legislative Council made representations asking for an endorsement about visits in the British National (Overseas) passport and it asked that British citizenship should be granted to former service men in Hong Kong and to British dependent territories citizens who were not ethnically Chinese. My right hon. Friend announced the Government's response yesterday in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan).
§ Mr. AshleyIs the Minister aware that China understandably refused to grant citizenship to non-Chinese residents in Hong Kong because they are a British responsibility? Does he accept that it is outrageous and unreasonable for the Government to refuse—as the Home Secretary has refused—British citizenship to that group of people? We simply cannot use people when it suits our purpose and then discard them when it does not. Is he aware that these 11,500 people will become stateless unless the Government change their mind? May we have some reconsideration of the Government's decision?
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe right hon. Gentleman has raised a number of points. First, the Chinese Government have confirmed that non-Chinese who meet the legal requirements under the Chinese nationality law may apply for Chinese nationality and that such cases will be dealt with by the appropriate authorities. Giving the non-ethnic Chinese British citizenship would not secure for them what they want—the right of abode in Hong Kong. They will not be left stateless. All British dependent territory citizens will be entitled to BNO status, and those who do not apply and have no other nationality will become BOCs, a status which will also be available to their children and grandchildren.
§ Mr. StanbrookIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that the category of British nationality known as British dependent territory citizenship is a fundamentally unsatisfactory method of dealing with the problem, and that after 1997 the numbers in that category will be so 409 small that it might well be desirable to abolish the category and appropriate them within the category of British citizenship?
§ Mr. WaddingtonI cannot agree with my hon. Friend. I think that the decisions that are being taken are right. I repeat that no one will be left without a citizenship. Those who are now BDTCs will be able to apply for the new status of BNO. If they do not apply, again they will not be left without citizenship, because they will be entitled to BOC status.