DEC 04 '85 18:47 GIS HK
UMELCO
DRAFT SPEECH BY HON HUI YIN FAT
sir.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
-
4.12.85
The White Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986
P.2
Pa
Madly.
543
h
10%~
I should like to make three points about the White
Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 :
(1)
HUM 040/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 1 DEC 1985
DES- OFFICE
From a historical point of view, when the British Nationality Act was passed by Parliament in 1981, holders of Hong Kong British Passports under the 1984 Nationality Act became British Dependent Territories Citizens. From the British Government's point of view, this change was intended to prevent some 2,000,000 Hong Kong British subjects from entering Britain for temporary or permanent residence. There was not much public reaction then to the unfair treatment meted out to holders of Hong Kong British passports. Subsequently, when the Sino-British Joint Declaration took effect, the British Government formally proposed this Draft Order, introducing a British National (Overseas) passport to replace the British Dependent Territories Citizen passport by 1st July 1997, the Tatter ceasing to be effective on that day. This action, from the British Government's point of view, is to implement the provisions laid down in the Memorandum ttached to the Joint Declaration. I believe that what the majority of holders of BDTC passports are concerned about most is the convenience, recognition, and acceptability by third countries of the new passport when it is used during the transitional pericd (from now to 1st July 1997) and after 1st July 1997. I support Mr Swaine's request that it should be clearly stated in the new passport that the holder is entitled to enter the United Kingdom without having to apply
Alpun takur
UMELCO