|
Britain grants citizenship to Hong Kong minorities
February 4, 1997
Web posted at: 6:00 p.m. EST (2300 GMT)Latest developments:
- Decision affects 8,000 Indians, Pakistanis
- 'The future was bleak'
- China pledged to continue capitalism, but...
HONG KONG (CNN) -- Britain has put an end to the worries of thousands of Indians and Pakistanis living in Hong Kong by granting them British citizenship once the colony reverts to China's control this summer.
Interior Minister Michael Howard announced the British government's decision Tuesday, resolving a long-standing dilemma that affects roughly 8,000 people.
"It is clear that the assurances which they have been given over a number of years have not allayed their concern," Howard told Parliament. "I therefore intend to make provision enabling them to apply for registration as British citizens, giving them the right of abode in the United Kingdom after 30 June, 1997."
Hong Kong governor Chris Patten, who has lobbied heavily for Britain to take this step, welcomed the news warmly. "It's an excellent Chinese New Year present to Hong Kong," he said.
Ethnic minority representatives have said they intend to remain in Hong Kong after the transition to Chinese control, but they wanted guarantees they would not be stateless.
'The future was bleak'
China has not indicated that it will grant them citizenship, and the concern was they would end up without official status anywhere.
"It is a kind of life-saving. Not only do they face that they are going to be stateless, but also there is concern for their future generations... The future was bleak."
-- chairman of the Hong Kong Indian Association
Many Indians and Pakistanis have ties with Britain going back to the founding of Hong Kong in the 1840s. Most of them are shopkeepers and tradesmen, and they play an important role in Hong Kong's economy.
But they hold British travel documents only, and have not been entitled to settle or work in Britain. Few are expected to leave, but they wanted some guarantees that they would have somewhere to go should Hong Kong slide into the kind of economic decline many fear.
China pledged to continue capitalism, but...
China has pledged to maintain Hong Kong's capitalist way of life for half a century after the takeover. But there are already concerns that the Chinese government is not living up to those promises, and that made an insurance policy for non-Chinese residents even more imperative.
"If China does what it says it will do and it respects the Hong Kong way of life," says Richard Grant of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, "they will continue to prosper along with everyone else in Hong Kong."
Correspondent Siobhan Darrow and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Panel votes to amend Hong Kong's civil liberties laws - February 1, 1997
- Human rights take center stage in Beijing talks - January 29, 1997
- Pro-democracy activists protest in Hong Kong - January 27, 1997
- Hong Kong warily counting down to reunion with China - December 30, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Welcome to the Hong Kong Transition Project
- Hong Kong
- The Better Hong Kong Foundation
- South China Morning Post 1997: Countdown to History
- Hong Kong Government Information Centre
- Hong Kong Supernet Home Page
- The Complete Hong Kong Guide
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Watch these shows on CNN for more sci-tech stories:
CNN Computer Connection | Future Watch | Science & Technology Week
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.