issued with the normal 10 year validity period. But if we are to make the
necessary arrangements in an orderly way, we need to have the Order in place now so that we can get on with the detailed preparatory work which needs to be done before next July.
6. These provisions have been debated at length both here and in Hong Kong. The debates concentrated on three particular requests made by the Hong Kong Legislative Council. They were first, that there should be an endorsement in British National (Overseas) passports to the effect that the holder did not require a visa or entry certificate to visit the United Kingdom. Second, that former servicemen in Hong Kong who fought in its defence during the second World War should be granted British citizenship. And third, that British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong who were not ethnically Chinese and who had no other form of nationality should be granted British citizenship in 1997 rather than British Overseas citizenship. This last request was also made on behalf of all the ethnic minorities by the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations.
The Government considered these three requests very carefully and as the House will know from the Home Secretary's announcement on 23 April, we have agreed to meet two of them.
T
8.
First, an endorsement will be placed in the British National (Overseas) passport which will read as follows: "In accordance with the United Kingdom Immigration Rules the holder of this passport does not require an entry certificate or visa to visit the United Kingdom". British Dependent Territories citizens do not have to obtain a visa in advance to visit the United Kingdom. This is the position under the current Immigration Rules and I can assure the House that this Government has no intention of introducing any visa requirement for such visitors. An explanatory leaflet will be given to each passport holder making it plain that visitors from Hong Kong are welcome here, and setting out the holder's position under the Immigration Rules. I am glad that our response to this request has been welcomed by the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, who have said they are confident that it will greatly help to enhance the acceptability of BN (0)
passports to third countries.
Of the 270 or
9. Second, we have agreed to meet the concern for ex-servicemen. so former servicemen who fought in Hong Kong's defence in the second World War some 60 or so are eligible for registration as British citizens under section 4(5) of
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