their relatives and friends
(c) advance of money in
justified cases
where the passport holder is destitute of resources (e)
visits by consular officials in prisons or in hospitals (f)
(if such passport holder is not а Chinese national)
British consular protection or assistance in the Hong Kong
SAR after 1997" (Source: South China Morning Post October
23rd 1985). However it was also then stated "that foreign
governments have not yet been formally consulted on the
acceptability of BN (0) passports". The usefulness of such
(d) assistance in repatriation in cases
passports, even as Travel Documents, has thus not yet been
established. Furthermore the scope of the protection or
assistance to be afforded by the British Consulate within
the SAR will depend upon the goodwill and acquiescence
the Government of the PRC.
of
8.
The
of
right
"explicitly provided for in
which both sides
accept
abode is, according to HMG,
a publicly signed agreement
international law.
as legally binding under
Any breach of it would be a very
serious matter indeed" (letter from D.C. Wilson of the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the President of the
Council of Hong Kong Indian Association 2nd April 1985).
8.1
statement
is
The legal theory underlying the
impeccable. In practise, however, the Hong Kong Indians
will after the Transfer Date be completely dependent upon
the Government of the PRC for the right of abode in Hong
Kong.
8.2
The Hong Kong Indians will have no right of abode
in Hong Kong
individual.
legally
enforceable
- 6 -
in the suit of an