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 dual BN(O) or status and Chinese nationality in Hong Kong (because the acquisition of BN(O) does not involve being "settled" in another country), and those who wish to naturalize in a country which requires the renunciation of foreign nationalities prior to approval (e.g. Japan) (because such persons have not yet acquired foreign nationality). In the latter case, the person must make a renunciation rather than a declaration. The cost for the declaration is HK$145 in Hong Kong and, in Macau, a processing fee of MOP 200 for the main applicant and MOP 100 per additional family member, plus a certificate