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THE LOSS OF OUR IDENTITY

From the last century, Britain has been changing her nationality laws. The UK is infamously one of the very countries that will distinguish her nationals into different classes of citizenship. Hong Kong people’s citizenship has been downgraded several times. British nationals in Hong Kong typically hold British National (Overseas) citizenship, however they have no right to live in UK and are not adequately protected by Britain.

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British Subject:

Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies

1949-1982

WW2

BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1948

  • Created the new status of "Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies" (CUKC)

  • For people born or naturalised in either the United Kingdom or one of its colonies

  • British colonies including Hong Kong had always shared equal rights with a common citizenship status of "British subject"

  • Until 1962, they could all enter and stay in the United Kingdom without any restrictions

COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRANTS ACT 1962

(LATER CAUSED WINDRUSH SCANDAL)

  • To tighten immigration control

  • All CUKCs connected with Hong Kong were restricted and denied benefits to which they were entitled

  • They were abused and betrayed like the Windrush generation

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British Overseas Territories Citizens*

1983-1997

BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981

  • Abolished the status of CUKC

  • Replaced those who have CUKC status by connection with Hong Kong

  • those born in Hong Kong on or after 1983 to a parent settled in Hong Kong are British Overseas Territories Citizens*.

IMMIGRATION ACT 1971

  • Concept of partiality or right of abode was created.​

  • UK in rare position of denying her nationals from Hong Kong entering their country of nationality

* British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTC) is formerly named as British Dependent Territories Citizens (BDTC)

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British National (Overseas)

1987-Present

NOW

SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION

HONG KONG ACT 1985

HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986

  • BN(O) are required to live in the UK for 5 or 10 years with restrictions to acquire British citizenship

  • BN(O) applicants were required to be British Overseas Territories citizens by a connection with Hong Kong before the registration deadlines

  • All of their British Overseas territories citizenships were removed upon the change of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997

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  • BN(O) has very limited rights which have:

    • Neither the right of abode nor right to work in the United Kingdom

    • nor the right to pass this nationality to their children

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  • BN(O)s are the British Nationals that are being treated as foreigners when entering the UK

FATE OF THE FORMER

BRITISH EMPIRE

Hong Kong was the only former colony that was given no right to determine its future, nor the right to retain their citizenship.

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SELF AUTONOMY,

FULL CITIZENSHIP

British overseas territories are under the sovereignty of the UK but do not form part of the UK itself. Most are internally self-governing.

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Residents of those territories held British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTC)*, nearly all of them are given British Citizenship on 2002^. They enjoy rights such as enjoying home student status in UK.

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Their citizenship, once shared by Hong Kongers prior to 1997, British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC), was formerly called British Dependent Territories Citizenship (BDTC), automatically became a British citizen in 2002 if their citizenship was gained by connection with any qualifying territories. 

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HONG KONG

LEFT TO A DICTATORSHIP,

SECOND-CLASSED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP

Hong Kong was the only British colony that was given neither British citizenship nor the chance to self-determine its future. When the Sino-British negotiation on Hong Kong’s future began, both sides made clear that Hong Kong people will not has a say in it. Britain eventually agreed giving up Hong Kong's sovereignty, and was rewarded with vast trade deal with China. Hong Kong was promised their way of life will not be changed for 50 years - which has proven to be a lie. 

 

British Nationals with Hong Kong origin, was denied the right as other British Overseas territories citizens to British citizenship nor retaining their citizenship. They were only allowed to register for a nationality called British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which has no right to live in the UK or HK.

 

- Hong Kong current crisis (external link to standwithhk)

 

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GAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE

Following the wave of decolonisation, most of the British colonies declared independence with decades after WWII. Congratulations to all those countries who finally win their right to deciding their own future and live as independent and proud countries rule by themselves. 

 

“All peoples have the right of self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” 

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-Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV)

It was a mistake to transfer the sovereignty of British Nationals of Hong Kong Origin over a dictatorship country like China back then. In the darkest hour of Hong Kong, the UK is responsible to not only Hong Kong, but also her nationals.

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#BNOisBritish #StandwithHK

The UK can do better.

We can do better.

Britons in Hong Kong is working hard in this campaign. BN(O) as historical error must be corrected. Please help us to keep this fight for BNO right advocacy, and urges the UK to act a stronger stance on supporting Hong Kong by considering a donation and join our cause.

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