pastort holders.
This feeling is not new: it has
existed since the early 1960s when restrictions were
first introduced. But the controversy reawakens each
time new legislation enshrining this situation is
passed. The British Nationality Act of 1981 (which was
of course enacted partly in response to deep domestic
concern about the prospect of very large numbers of
people coming to the UK from Hong Kong) nevertheless
created particularly strong resentment in the territory.
The fact that Portuguese Nationality Law as applied to
Macao means that henceforth some Macao residents will be
able to enter the UK more easily than Hong Kong British
passport holders has provoked bitterness, although it is
well understood that the numbers involved in Macao are
small (a maximum of 100,000) compared with the 3.5
million in Hong Kong. Groups such as civil servants have
strong feelings about what they perceive as the UK's
obligations towards its nationals in Hong Kong.
By
focussing people's attention on their future, the Joint
Declaration has heightened resentment about this issue in
Hong Kong.
19.
That would
It is clear that we cannot afford the spectacular
gestures towards Hong Kong British passport holders
advocated by some press commentators.
undermine the British Nationality Act. It would also be
impossible to reconcile with our responsibilities towards
Hong Kong and the need to sustain confidence in the
territory. But while taking full account of these
considerations, there is no reason why we need ignore the