Nationality law of the People's Republic of China Concerning the Implementation of the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China in the Macau Special Administrative Region", its equivalent of Macau, although with an additional exception that permits Macau residents of mixed Portuguese and Chinese descent to choose their nationality. In practice, many overseas Chinese, who are of "Chinese descent", would not have been Chinese nationals but for the "Explanation", so this provision effectively bestowed Chinese nationality on any Hong Kong- or Macau-resident child who is of Chinese descent and was born in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan or mainland China, regardless of the nationalities of his parents, in
Nationality law of the People's Republic of China theory, the Chinese Nationality Law is "de jure" applicable to Chinese nationals residing in all three constituents of the People's Republic of China, namely Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR. Due to the complex history of Hong Kong and Macau SARs, however, special "explanations" of the Nationality Law were made in place by the National People's Congress before the Handover of Hong Kong and Macau. These interpretations, applicable only to permanent residents of Hong Kong or Macau, have created a separate class of Chinese nationality unique to those two SARs, which differs vastly, especially with the acquisition and