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9628 1
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HONG KONG WHEN IT WAS OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY BUT MANY OF THE
SERVICEMEN WERE BORN IN HONG KONG AS WERE THEIR PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS. ALL THEIR PERSONAL FAMILY CONNECTIONS ARE WITH
HONG KONG AND MOST IF NOT ALL ARE BDTCS WHO WILL BE ENTITLED TO BECOME BN (0)S AND WILL HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG UNDER THE AGREEMENT. GRANTING BRITISH CITIZENSHIP CANNOT SECURE THEIR
FUTURE IN HONG KONG WHICH IS WHERE THEY WISH TO CONTINUE TO LIVE.
12.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER CAREFULLY ANY APPLICATIONS
FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER SECTION 4(5) OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT ON GROUNDS OF SERVICE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG HOWEVER, THIS SECTION CANNOT APPLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WHICH MAY WELL
HAVE BEEN THE POSITION FOR MOST OF THE HONG KONG EX-SERVICEMEN. IT IS NOT, OF COURSE, POSSIBLE TO INDICATE IN ADVANCE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF ANY APPLICATION WOULD BE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO USING THE POWER VERY SPARINGLY AND GRANTING BRITISH CITIZENSHIP ONLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN OUTSTANDING SERVICE. WOULD BE NECESSARY TO TAKE THESE FACTORS FULLY INTO ACCOUNT IN FAIRNESS TO OTHER EX-SERVICEMEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
ENDS
KONG.
IT
HOWE
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