Council of Hongkong Indian Associations
Member Associations :
THE INDIAN CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
THE HINDU ASSOCIATION
c/o TST P. O. BOX 95106, HONG KONG
Telex: 43500-HARI-HX Cable "INDCOUNCIL” Tel: 3-7218844
THE INDIA ASSOCIATION
THE INDIA CLUB
THE KHALSA DIWAN
17th September, 1986
Sir Russell Johnston, MP House of Commons
London SW1A OAA
Dear Sir Russell,
Pa Nat
эт
THE HONG KONG INDIAN
WOMEN'S CLUB
THE NAV BHARAT CLUB
became the provian safety net seems be the main theme
running through this letter.
Jon Smith 23/0
Tom
We are writing to thank you for the interest you have so kindly shown in the question of granting full British Citizenship to the ethnic minority British Dependent Territories Citizens (BDTCs) of Hong Kong.
The Ho
9 agree. will also no alvor
make the point that
Lord
d Glensthuri by statement in the
Love is in 16 Mey
As you know, the Hong Kong Nationality Order was passed the House of Lords on 16th May. Since then, our Council has had the opportunity to review and further evaluate the situation, and to discuss with various non-Chinese BDTCs how the proposed changes in nationality will affect them.
a corsicakes commitment Surih
Astara
recognised буже Ethnic's supporter in the House.
While our Council appreciates the seriousness of the assurance given by Lord Glenarthur on behalf of HMG in the House of Lords debate, that "the Government would consider it an obligation to treat with very considerable and particular sympathy the case for admission to the United Kingdom of any individual who, against all our present expectations, came under pressure to leave Hong Kong", we are concerned that there is still no automatic guarantee of right of abode in the UK should things take a turn for the worse in Hong Kong. This same concern is also reflected in the representations we have been receiving from members of our community, many of whom feel that HMG's assurance - despite its good intentions will not provide an adequate "safety net" for them to face the future in Hong Kong with full confidence.
Our Council's view is that most non-Chinese BDTCs will choose to adopt the following position regarding their future nationality status:-
(1) Initially, they will wait for the next general election to take place in the UK, in the hope that a new Government will adopt a more sympathetic attitude towards the problem.
HIK BAQ/!
REGEIVED
INDE
KAOST
- 3 DEC 1986
-
.3. OFFICER
PA
Rru
Y
Action Taken
President: ¡MR.IN. HARILELA, ODE JP Vice President : MR. K. SITAL, JP Council Members MR. SA, AMEL
Contd./...
Hon. Secretary: MR. K. B. RATH! Hon. Treasurer: MR. J. MULCHAND
MRS. KAMLA KAPAHI MR. G. B. MAHBUBANI MR. LACHMAN NARAIN
JON
27/10