The "your son can wait until he's an adult" claim by the Chinese authorities is giving me serious cause for concern. I was planning on waiting a few years until returning to the UK and at that point changing my childs nationality (gaining British citizenship & cancelling Chinese citizenship). I was under no illusion that the process would be particularly easy or efficient but i assumed as the legal guardian of the child it'd be my choice as to my child's nationality.

I'm going to get in contact with the British Embassy to see what their take on the situation is regards such a claim and possibly even feel out the authorities in my wife's hukou area as to what their attitude might be towards any future application for relinquishing Chinese citizenship.

I'll let you know if i get any answers.