Former British Dependent Territories Citizenship in Hong Kong
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See the articles British nationality law, History of British nationality law, British Overseas Territories citizen and British nationality law and Hong Kong. Here are some extra information on the BDTC status relevant to Hong Kong.
[edit] Belonger Status
British Dependent Territories citizenship is a 'citizenship' covering all the Dependent Territories. Individual overseas territories do not have their own legal nationality status. However they retain the right to make their own immigration laws and award Belonger status, and holding BDTC does not in itself give a right to reside in a British Overseas territory. This depends on a territory's immigration laws.
Some BDTCs have no right to live in any territory.
Similarly, it is possible to have Belonger status in a territory without necessarily being a BDTC, depending on the law of that territory. Most non-British citizens who acquire this status will normally become naturalised BDTCs, while British citizens have the option to do so if they wish.
[edit] Hong Kong
BDTCs solely connected with Hong Kong lost that status on 30 June 1997 upon transfer of the territory to the People's Republic of China. The status of British National (Overseas) was made available before 1997 to allow Hong Kong BDTCs to opt to retain a form of British nationality. Those who did not have PRC citizenship (or any other nationality) and who had not registered as British National (Overseas) became British Overseas citizens on 1st July 1997.
