GRS 500
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESK BY 17130OZ FCO
TELNO 190
OF 171015Z JANUARY 86
INFO DESKBY 180100Z PEKING
HKK
22
TOP COPY
040/4
ML
WHITE PAPER ON NATIONALITY ORDER
: HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF A STATEMENT ISSUED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS THIS EVENING.
BEGINS.
THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS HAD A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON TO CONSIDER THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS LAST NIGHT ON THE DRAFT HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986.
FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THOSE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO HAVE REFLECTED IN THE DEBATE THE ANXIETIES AND WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHICH WE HAVE EXPRESSED TO THEM. WE SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO THE MANY BRITISH MPS WHO HAVE REPLIED TO OUR LETTER OF THE 3RD JANUARY, MANY OF THEM ENDORSING THE VIEWS WE PUT FORWARD.
WE ARE PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE ON THE COMPELLING CASE OF THE NON-ETHNIC CHINESE MINORITIES AND EX-SERVICEMEN. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE FAILED TO DISCHARGE THEIR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO BRITISH NATIONALS WHO HAVE MADE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO BRITAIN AND THE COMMONWEALTH. THE WORLD AT LARGE WILL BE THE JUDGE OF THIS ACT. AS PADDY ASHDOWN MP SAID IN THE COMMONS' DEBATE **IT WOULD BE A COMPLETE ABANDONMENT OF BRITAIN'S RIGHT TO BE CALLED A CIVILIZED NATION IF (THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT) DO NOT DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THIS''.
WE NOTE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE CONSIDERING WITH SYMPATHY'' HOW TO MEET OUR PROPOSAL REGARDING AN ENDORSEMENT IN THE FUTURE AN(0) PASSPORT WHICH WOULD MAKE CLEAR THE RIGHT OF BONA FIDE TRAVELLERS TO FREELY VISET THE UNITED KINGDOM. WE TOTALLY REJECT THE POINT MADE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT PUTTING AN ENDORSEMENT IN THE PASSPORT ''MIGHT MISLEAD AND GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT IN SOME WAY EXAMINATION BY AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINARY HMMIGRATION PUELS IS NOT REQUIRED.'' MILLIONS OF BONA FIDE VISITORS ENTER THE UNITED KINGDOM DAY IN AND
оду
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