Hong Kong people's status in the UK?

Question

Hong Kong was a British overseas territory(colony) until 1997.

Did the Hong Kong people have the freedom to move and work in the UK back then? (I mean, before the handover)

Does Hong Kong people who were born before the handover(1997) have UK Passport and UK citizenship?

If not, do they at least have permanent residency of the UK?

Answer 1

Hong Kong people were British Dependent Territories citizens. they didn't have right to abode in the UK under the Immigration Act 1983.

Right of abode was introduced in 1971.

Many of the inhabitants had full British citizenship before 1982, when the Conservative government took the right away from all dependent territories in order to stop residents of Hong Kong moving to Britain prior to being handed over to China.