The Passport Shuffle

Does it matter what passport you hold? Definitely. A British passport gives you the right to live in Britain, a British National Overseas passport allows you only the right to visit. Some passports, such as a U.S. or a British, allow ease of travel to other countries-no running down to the Malaysian consulate to get an entry visa. If you do worldwide business, this allows quick access to other countries and their markets.

• India

  India does not allow dual citizenship-everyone who took British citizenship in Hong Kong lost their Indian. To migrate back to India, they must first apply for a visa and then live in India for five years for full citizenship. Citizenship is not guaranteed nor is the entry visa. But as one Indian official said, "What mother can refuse her own children?"

• China

  According to the People's Republic of China basic law of Hong Kong, only ethnic Chinese residents of Hong Kong will receive Chinese citizenship. Qualified minorities will receive right of abode in Hong Kong which will last for two generations and have certain legal rights. At one point Chinese citizenship was being offered to all residents of Hong Kong. Due to travel restrictions and visa problems associated with a PRC passport, it was the last thing they wanted.

  There was a gigantic sigh of relief from the Indian community when this offer was quickly withdrawn.

• United Kingdom

  All qualified Hong Kong residents can receive the British National Overseas (BNO) passport. This passport will not allow them to live in the U.K. and there is question whether some countries will accept it after 1997. The British passport is what most people want. Besides the right to live in the U.K. (an excellent insurance policy in case things get bad in Hong Kong) it also allows the holder to travel throughout most of the world without additional visas. Many Indian businessmen want a British passport for this reason alone. In 1990, Britan decided to offer 50,000 household passports to residents of Hong Kong (including Chinese) through a complicated point system. Many residents believe wealth brought (or bought) the most points.

• Hong Kong

  The governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten has called for 3.3 million residents of Hong Kong to be given British right to abode. There is no chance of this happening. Many in Hong Kong believe this and other stunts such as holding elections in Hong Kong are just to garner Patten publicity back in the U.K. where he has major political ambitions.

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