HC Deb 05 December 1984 vol 69 cc200-1W
Mr. Stanbrook

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and commonwealth Affairs how many of the 6,000 British Dependent Territories citizens whom he believes the Chinese Government may not consider to be Chinese compatriots under the draft agreement with the Chinese Government acquired their present citizenship by birth in (a) Hong Kong and (b) elsewhere in the Dependent Territories; and how many acquired citizenship by descent and by naturalisation, respectively.

Mr. Luce

The Hong Kong Government estimate that approximately 4,000 of the British Dependent Territories citizens to whom my hon. Friend refers acquired their present citizenship by birth in Hong Kong, none by birth in other dependent territories and approximately 180 by naturalisation. The figure for those who have obtained their citizenship by descent is unobtainable.

Mr. Stanbrook

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the total numbers of British Dependent Territories citizens presently resident in Hong Kong; how many of these possess no other citizenship or nationality; and how many are entitled to the right of abode in Hong Kong.

Mr. Luce

The Hong Kong Government estimate that there are about 3 million BDTCs resident in Hong Kong. The Chinese Government probably regard all but about 6,000 of these to be Chinese nationals as defined in the Chinese memorandum. In the time available, it is not possible to estimate how many of this latter figure have no other citizenship or nationality. All 3 million BDTCs have the right of abode in Hong Kong.