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 Chinese citizenship as a matter of law under Article 9, but in practice, for such foreign citizens who return to reside in Hong Kong, such change of citizenship is only recognized within Hong Kong after making a declaration of the change of nationality at Hong Kong's Immigration Department. Once the declaration is made, such persons would be released from their Chinese nationality. As under the Interpretation, the relevant forms of British nationality are not recognized as acquired after "settling" in a foreign country: the British Nationals (Overseas) status held by people of Chinese descent born in China (including Hong Kong),