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Dependent Territories citizens if they so wished. Of course we cannot say how many might be in a position by 1997 to claim British citizenship, but the future commitment is at least uncertain and possibly substantial. We cannot responsibly enter into a commitment unless it is on the understanding that it may one day have to be met.
16. There are those who argue that given the circumstances of Hong Kong it would nevertheless be prudent to grant these people British citizenship in case circumstances there were to change and they had to leave. Of course if this were to be the case, there would no doubt need to be a good deal of reconsideration and readjustment. But it is not sensible to go into the next 11 years planning for the worst, and we have no reason at all to do so. But I understand the concerns of this community and that is why I have already made clear that if any British National were at any time to come under pressure to leave Hong Kong, we would expect the Government of the day to consider sympathetically their admission to the United Kingdom on a case by case basis, Mr John Swaine, the Convenor of the Legislative Council's Ad Hoc Group on the Order, has been quoted as
welcoming this as a strong moral commitment to this community. I am sure he was right to do so, Taken together with our other measures it provides the best assurance for a secure and confident future for the people of Hong Kong.
17.
There are already signs of continuing encouragement about Hong Kong's future. The Joint Liaison Group continues to work well. It has recently made arrangements to ensure that after 1997 Hong Kong keeps its place in the world trading community, and it has also formally agreed the terms of the right of abode endorsement in the BN(0) passport.
18.
Confidence in Hong Kong is therefore high, This Government has I believe made a significant contribution to establishing and building that confidence by carefully measured steps, many of which have been considered and approved by this House, The Nationality Order represents another important step along the way.
The arrangements we have made for the ethnic minorities, as for all other British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong, fully honour our commitments to them. They offer a sound and responsible basis for continued confidence and security in the future. The Nationality Order will, I believe, serve the people of Hong Kong well. I commend it to the House.
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