UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 25110OZ FCO
TELNO 1242
OF 25O9OOZ APRIL 86
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING
: NATIONALITY OPDER IN COUNCIL : UN
REACTION
Hall 340 нин
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
604
TEXT OF STATEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS-
BEGINS
2 5 APR 1986
DESK OFFICER INDEX
IPA
STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS QE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS ON 25 APRIL 1986
REGISTRY Action Takenį
THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS MET THIS AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS THE STATEMENT MADE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 23RD APRIL. WE ARE GLAD THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE ACCEPTED TWO OF OUR THREE REQUESTS, NAMELY, AN ENDORSEMENT MN THE NEW BNO PASSPORT STATING THAT HOLDERS DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE GRANTING OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE
IN BRITAIN TO FORMER SERVICEMEN.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE PROPOSED ENDORSEMENT IN THE NEW PASSPORT WHICH MAKES IT CLEAR THAT HOLDERS DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL GREATLY HELP TO ENHANCE THE ACCEPTANCE TO THIRD COUNTRIES OF THIS NEW PASSPORT SO THAT THEY TOO MAY ALLOW VISA-FREE ENTRY TO THEIR COUNTRIES. THIS WILL ENABLE OVER 3 MILLION HONG KONG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO TRAVEL WITH RELATIVE EASE IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS VITAL TO HONG KONG'S CONTINUED
PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
WE ARE GLAD THAT FORMER SERVICEMEN AND THEIR DEPENDANTS WILL BE GIVEN FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP OR THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. BRITAIN AND HONG KONG OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE
AND THESE ARRANGEMENTS ARE A FITTING RECOGNITION OF THEIR
CONTRIBUTION.
WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE EPITISH GOVERNMENT DID NOT ACCEPT OUP REQUEST FOR NON-ETHNIC CHINESE TO RE GRANTED FULL PRITISH CITIZENHSIP, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS HAS PEEN AN ISSUE ON WHICH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE HAS SPOKEN WITH ONE VOICE. EPITAIN HAS A
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS SMALL GROUP AND WE UPGE THAT OUR FRIENDS IN THE BRITISH PAPLAMENT TO CONTINUE TO PRESS THE IP
LEGITIMATE CLAIM.
IWE.