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Importation of Labour
io•
10
Turning now, Sir, to the question of labour and its
importation, on which many members spoke, I have little to add
to what has already been said by the Secretary for Education
and Manpower. I would only urge employers who have a need to
import skilled staff, who cannot be found in Hong Kong, to
apply to the Immigration Department.
Wives of Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen
11.
On the subject of the right of abode for the wives
and widows of Hong Kong ex-servicemen, Members have urged the
Government to make representations to H.M. Government for the
granting of British citizenship. I can understand the problems
faced by the widows in the acquisition of British citizenship,
and for some wives in fulfilling the residence requirement.
We shall bring the points raised by Members to the attention
of the British Government. I must however caution that, if
what is being sought involves, as it would appear to do,
amendments to the British Nationality Act 1981, it would be no
small undertaking, even for a limited group of people, because
many of the provisions of that legislation are closely
interlinked, and to seek to change one part could have
ramifications for other areas. But we shall certainly look
into this and see what can be done to assist this particular
group of persons.