MAY.07 '86 16:31 GMT HO 2 LUNAR HOUSE
P.03
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.
7. 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.
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.
9. Second, we have agreed to meet the concern for ex-servicemen. of the 270 or
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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