CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
the if we
Indians
to admit such people on a case by case basis in light of particular circumstances. Furthermore, we think that agreed to give all those who become stateless after 1997 British citizenship (the only way to meet the
request) it would be
an invitation to the Chinese to declare anyone they thought undesirable, of whatever ethnic origin, to be non-Chinese. There is for example a very large communitiy of
Eurasians. people would then become British citizens with the right of abode in the United Kingdom. Nor can we rule out the possibility that if we give in to the Indians the majority of Chinese BD TC S
in Hong
themselves hard done by and request
In short, this would immigration commitment,
represent a and Wou 1d
demands for similar treatment for elsewhere.
Ex-servicemen
8.
Such
Kong might feel similar
treatment. pretty open-ended probably le ad
other communities
to
More
to
There are also serious difficulties about granting British citizenship to ex-servicemen
in Hong Kong. Whatever their contribution, there are many others who would have an equal claim to British citizenship. importantly, from
the limited facts at our disposal, it would appear that the majority of the ex-servicemen were in
British forces, and are therefore not eligible apply for British citizenship under Section 4(5)
of the BNA as proposed, because this section only applies to Crown service under the government of a dependent territory. There i s no other discretion in the BNA to
and these people British citizens, would require separate primary legislation to amend the BNA in this sense.
If we accepted those ex-servicemen who were eligible under 4(5) and rejected the others we risk drawing invidious distinctions between
enable
would
to us
make
different categories of servicemen.
9.
it
After considerable pressure from Ministers here, Mr Waddington will (we hope) be taking a relatively open line in the debate. He will emphasise that he is anx i ous to listen to MP c' views, and that these and reaction in Hong Kong will be taken in to account in considering the Order again before
before it is resubmitted
Parliament. He will not rule out any of the Unofficials' proposals, but he will
explain
serious difficulties
the
sees in all of them.
to
the
.
Government
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