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 case, their non-Chinese nationality or citizenship is simply ignored by the Chinese authorities. Further, Hong Kong and Macau residents who acquire foreign citizenship while settled abroad, and who therefore legally lose Chinese citizenship under Article 9 are, in practice, treated as Chinese nationals unless they undertake the administrative step of notifying the change of nationality to the authorities of the respective territories. The declaration is not enforced, so such persons who return to reside in Hong Kong and Macau are treated as Chinese nationals owing to Article 3. Although it is generally difficult to have "de facto" dual nationality of