the law which would enable us to grant British citizenship now to this group of people, we sought to meet their needs and anxieties by giving an undertaking to admit for settlement any of the 270 or so who wish to come here at any time, together with their dependants. A person who is granted settlement here is free from any restriction on the period for which he may remain, and becomes eligible for British citizenship once he has lived here for five years.
I hope this is helpful. Officials of both the Home Office and the Hong Kong Government have explained the position to Mr Maximo Cheng in some detail.
(DAVID WADDINGTON)