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 through the British Nationality Selection Scheme do not lose their citizenship automatically under Article 9 because their acquisition of BN(O) or British Citizenship does not involve "settling in a foreign country", and so does not meet the requirements on the grounds of the loss of Chinese nationality provided in Article 9. They may not apply to renounce their Chinese citizenship under Article 10 (see above), and if tried, such applications will "not" be approved due to the non-recognition of such person's British nationality. Former Hong Kong residents who become settled in another country and acquire foreign citizenship do lose their