7.
The provisions in the Order are of vital interest to the 31/4
million British Dependent Territories citizens who are
resident
in
Hong Kong. We had agreed the text of the White Paper with the Hong
Kong Government and Executive Council, and we have been monitoring
Hong Kong opinion the White Paper closely. The Governor of Hong
on
Kong has sent the Government full reports of reaction in Hong Kong
to the White Paper. The Government attaches great importance to the views expressed in Hong Kong.
8.
The White Paper itself was debated in the Hong Kong
Legislative Council on 4 December 1985. During that debate members
asked the British Government to do more to explain the arrangements
for the new passport to third countries. They wanted to be assured
that it would be internationally acceptable as a travel document,
and that its holder would enjoy the same rights of access to other
countries as those holding British Dependent Territory passports.
And they asked that the new
passport should say that the holder did
enter the UK. Members also supported
request by the non-ethnic Chinese minority
Chinese minority in Hong Kong and by
some former servicemen to be
British citizenship rather
not need en try clearance to
the
th an
granted
or British Overseas
British National (Overseas) status
citizenship. The se views were set out in a letter of 3 January from
the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council. A formal
motion endorsing the letter was passed by the Legislative Council on
8 January. I shall respond to these points in a few minutes. But I
think it would be for the
convenience of the House if I first set
out briefly the Government's proposals contained
the draft Order
in Council and explained more fully in the White Paper.
in
9.
I should like to make it clear at the outset that the Order
by definition, affect on ly those people who are British
Territories citizens by virtue
of a connection with Hong
can,
Dependent
Kong.
Dependent Territories citizen,
wholly from a connection with
It cannot therefore affect anyone who is not a British
or whose citizenship c an be derived
another dependent territory.
But it
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