| Current mood: |  nerdy |
My citizenship status
So I've been researching on my citizenship status of various points in my life and came up with some very interesting factoids...
At birth
Being born in HK in 1979, I was by virtue a:
- British Subject (which was also known as a Commonwealth citizen);
- United Kingdom and Colonies citizen (CUKC) ;
- People's Republic of China (PRC) citizen; and
- Permanent resident of HK (Right to abode).
These status were provided by British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 which stated that a person born in "His Majesty's dominions" a British subject; and by British Nationality Act 1948 which created the CUKC status. The position of the PRC is that people of Chinese descent born in the official Chinese territory is a Chinese citizen and has PRC citizenship ONLY. Official Chinese territory included all of Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The PRC would not recognise any foreign (namely British and Portugues) nationality status own by its Chinese nationals because it would be validating the Unequal Treaties that ceded Hong Kong and Macau.
1 January 1983
On this date, the British Nationality Act 1981 came into force. Colonies were renamed as Dependent Territories thus new citizenship categories were created. "British subject" was now only known as Commonwealth citizen. Thus, under the provisions of that Act I became a:
- British Dependent Territory (BDT) citizen;
- Commonwealth citizen;
- People's Republic of China (PRC) citizen; with
- Permanent resident of HK (Right to abode).
22 July 1992
Our family immigrated to Canada and upon landing we were granted Permanent Resident status. Thus, I was still a:
- BDT citizen;
- Commonwealth citizen;
- PRC citizen;
- Permanent resident of HK (Right to abode); and
- Permanent resident of Canada.
8 March 1996
All four of us naturalised as Canadian citizens on that date. I became a:
- BDT citizen;
- Commonwealth citizen;
- PRC citizen;
- Permanent resident of HK (Right to abode); and
- Canada citizen.
Interesting to note that the PRC nationality law stipulates that a Chinese national will lose his PRC citizenship when naturalised in a foreign country. However, PRC nationality law would not apply to HK until 1 July 1997. Plus, according to Hong Kong SAR Basic Law Annex III Article 8, it was clarified on 15 May 1996 that a HK Chinese national may still keep his PRC citizenship even though he has obtained foreign citizenship.
By virtue of being a Canadian citizen provided by the Citizenship Act 1977 I am also a Commonwealth citizen. This status is connected to both Canada and HK at the same time.
So between this date to immediately before 1 July 1997, I in fact had as much as four citizenships.
1 July 1997
On this date HK was returned to PRC sovereignty and the HKSAR established. BDTC status ceased to exist and could not be retained. HK permanent resident status also ceased to exist and replaced with HKSAR permanent resident status.
- PRC citizen;
- Commonwealth citizen;
- Permanent resident of HKSAR (Right to abode); and
- Canada citizen.
So there you have it, I'm currently a multiple citizen of PRC, Canada and the Commonwealth with right to abode in HKSAR. I am currently unsure if I have lost my HKSAR permanent resident status because I may have been too late in renewing my ID card. Guess it will be the next thing for me to find out.
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reclamationzone) wrote,
