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Immigration a matter for HKG alone.
(New "Right of Abode" Legislation)
6.
Necessary to introduce term into HK law, so that right of
abode endorsements may be entered in BN(O) passports and
Certificates of Identity from 1 July as agreed with Chinese
Government.
7.
Introduction has not diminished in any way existing rights of any group resident in Hong Kong. Principles underlying legislative changes fully agreed with Chinese Government.
8.
Declaration
After 1997 right of abode will be accorded as set out in Joint
Further changes to Hong Kong laws needed to bring
fully into line with Joint Declaration at that stage. But no-one
with right of abode before 1997 will lose it unless they have
severed their links with Hong Kong and settled elsewhere. Joint
Declaration quite clear on this.
(Ethnic Minority BDTCs)
9.
I said in House of Lords on 16 May 1986 that HMG "should consider it an obligation upon any future government to treat with very considerable and particular sympathy the case for admission to the United Kingdom of any individual British national who, against
all our present expectations, came under pressure to leave Hong
Kong".
10.
Reaffirm absolutely my earlier statement.
11. But do not expect such a situation to arise. Believe Joint
Declaration provides necessary assurances to enable all inhabitants
of Hong Kong to plan confidently for future here.
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