BACKGROUND NOTE
1.
The request by the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations was one
of three requests made of the Government by the Unofficial Members of the
Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) of Hong Kong. The three requests
were:
a)
an endorsement in BN (0) passports that the holders
do not require a visa or entry certificate to visit the UK;
b)
that non-ethnic Chinese British Dependent Territories
citizens should be granted British citizenship and;
2.
c)
that the 270 or so former servicemen who fought for
Hong Kong in the Second World War should be granted British
citizenship.
The Government's response to these requests were announced by the Home
Secretary in answer to a question from Mr Colin Moynihan on 23 April.
A copy
is attached. The Government have agreed to the passport endorsement, and to
meet the ex-servicemen's concerns. But the Government have refused the request
by and on behalf of the non-ethnic Chinese on the grounds that it is neither
necessary to secure their future in Hong Kong, nor right to accept such a
large and uncertain immigration commitment.
3. The Home Secretary is to write to Mr Sital, the Vice-President of the
Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations, explaining the reasons for the
Government's response
and we understand the Prime Minister will also be writing
4.
The draft Order in Council was laid before Parliament on 28 April.
Arrangements will now be made for the debates on the Urder to take place within
the next few weeks.