Nationality law of the People's Republic of China territory "before or after" their transfer of sovereignty to China are regarded as "born in China". Those who are of ethnic Chinese origin are Chinese nationals before and after the handovers. Having said that, people born in Hong Kong or Macao in the years before handover, were usually given British nationality (mostly British Dependent Territories Citizenship) and full Portuguese citizenship, based on British and Portuguese laws. For Hong Kong residents, the "Interpretation" of the Nationality Law was adopted at the Nineteenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress on May 15, 1996, a year prior to
Nationality law of the People's Republic of China is not specified by rules, and it can take up to one year. In Hong Kong and Macau, the Immigration Department and the DSI handle the applications from the respective territories. Certain Chinese foreign missions also handle renunciation applications for Chinese residing abroad (mostly those in countries which require Chinese nationals to renounce their nationality prior to naturalization). A person who has forfeited or renounced his Chinese nationality can request to restore his Chinese nationality, according to Article 13 of the nationality law, if they have "legitimate reasons". The term "legitimate reasons" is also not further defined. Foreign nationality must