Sir,
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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON STEPHEN CHEONG, OBE, JP LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 4.12.85
The White Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986
I
I hope I am not speaking out of turn but if I do, may I ask for your indulgence and allow me to make a plea to those MPs
who will speak in Westminster on the proposed BN(0) Order.
plead that they be totally honest, not only with their own
conscience and honour but also with us when taking part in the
debate.
Most in Hong Kong, I am quite sure, fully recognise the
stark reality that it will be a miracle if our views are ever heeded by those parliamentarians taking part in the debate involving this type of issues. That is probably why there has not been much excitement over this issue as it should have been since the BN(0) was supposed to be created for only 2 1/2 million British subjects of Hong Kong origin. In a way, Britain must be grateful for the calm and gentlemanly way in which the 2 1/2 million Hong Kong British subjects have reacted towards the whole saga of the successive British Immigration or Nationality Acts. Throughout the past 20 odd years, we have seen the rights of British subjects in Hong Kong eroded by each successive Immigration or Nationality Act that came into force in 1962, 1971 and finally 1981, when the last nail was slipped through right
under our nose.
Sir, I am of course too young to recall what had happened in 1962 and 1971, but I recall vividly the events of
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