NATIONALITY/RIGHT OF ABODE
15.
MY LORDS, SOME OF THE STRONGEST FEELINGS IN THIS
DEBATE HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED ON THE SUBJECT OF
NATIONALITY AND THE RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE
IN THE UK. OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS SHOULD BE A
SUBJECT OF THE KEENEST CONCERN IN HONG KONG AND WHY
HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE PRESSING FOR SOME FORM OF
ASSURANCE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. BUT AS
WELL AS BEING AN EMOTIVE ISSUE IT IS ONE WITH THE MOST
SERIOUS PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES ON ALL SIDES, AS WE HAVE
DISCUSSED ON MANY OCCASIONS.
16. YOUR LORDSHIPS WILL NOT EXPECT ME TO BE MAKING ANY
ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY. NOBLE LORDS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE
VERY REAL DIFFICULTIES WHICH WOULD BE POSED BY A
MASSIVE NEW IMMIGRATION COMMITMENT.
GRANTING AUTOMATIC
RIGHT OF ABODE HERE TO ALL PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG CANNOT
BE A REALISTIC OPTION. THERE MAY HOWEVER BE SCOPE FOR
ARRANGEMENTS TO ENHANCE HONG KONG PEOPLE'S SECURITY:
CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND IMAGINATION ARE BEING DEVOTED
TO FINDING SOLUTIONS WHICH TACKLE THE PROBLEM.
/"ARMAGHEDDON"
17.