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Hong Kong Citizens
[LORD WYATT OF WEEFORD.]
LORDS]
24 APRIL 1989
at their policy, as the Portuguese authorities have done in Macao, of issuing passports to Hong Kong citizens?
Are the Government also aware that all informed opinion in the journals of this country believes that the Government are behaving dishonourably over the matter? There is growing bitterness in Hong Kong, with people turning against Britain, which is to the advantage of others and not ourselves. Will the Government please now stop pretending that there is any real difficulty about the matter and examine it again?
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, the remarks which were alleged to have been made by the Chinese Foreign Minister to the Hong Kong press on 22nd March are, I think, those to which the noble Lord refers. They made clear, as he has done, that the question of granting right of abode in this country! to Hong Kong British passport holders matter for Her Majesty's Government. Nevertheless, I hope that the noble Lord will not fail to take into account that the matter of nationality is very sensitive for the Chinese Government.
As to the concern the noble Lord expressed on behalf of many about the policy causing considerable resentment in Hong Kong, I can tell the House that I am fully aware of that concern. The mood is quite apparent to all who are involved, even though the provisions that exist in our British Nationality Act are not new and are not aimed specifically at Hong Kong people. I hope the noble Lord realises that if we were to go so far as he suggests, well over six times the number of people granted full British citizenship in the ten-year period from 1977 to 1987 would be involved.
Lord Renton: My Lords, I fully support the original Answer my noble friend gave. Is he aware that far from the action of Her Majesty's Government being dishonourable, it is entirely in keeping with the spirit of the agreement which we made a few years ago with the Chinese Government?
Lord Glenarthur: Yes, my Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. As I said in answer to the noble Lord, Lord Wyatt of Weeford, just now, the matter of nationality is one of great sensitivity with the Chinese Government. Indeed, their position is set out in a Chinese memorandum on passport and nationality matters associated with the joint declaration, which states that under Chinese nationality law,
"All Hong Kong Chinese compatriots, whether or not they are BDTCs, are Chinese nationals”.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon: My Lords, is it not ironic that 100 million Germans and Italians will shortly be able to come to this country without let or hindrance, yet we refuse to grant that right to 3.2 million Hong Kong citizens who have always been loyal and have never fought against this country?
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, no one is disputing the loyalty of the Hong Kong Chinese. What I would dispute, though, is the histories of all those countries
and British Passports
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concerned and the reasons the various rules such those which affect the Portuguese in Macao have come to exist.
Lord Eden of Winton: My Lords, in view of the horrors which the Chinese Government are presently inflicting upon the people of Tibet, is there not some justification for nervousness, to put it mildly, on the part of the people of Hong Kong? Will the Minister therefore exercise a degree of flexibility in the matter and assure the House that he and his colleagues will examine it again?
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, I believe that although the matter of Tibet might cause concern, it is a red herring. The histories of Hong Kong and Tibet are totally different. As regards looking at the matter again, I have explained that I believe there would not be sufficient support for the kind of move which is proposed. Nevertheless, we shall no doubt study the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee of another place when it emerges in due course.
Baroness Ewart-Biggs: My Lords, in view of what the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, has said and the very real anxieties felt by the people of Hong Kong, as evidenced by the high degree of emigration, can the noble Lord say what measures Her Majesty's Government intend to take in order to allay those worries? Will the Minister state whether there is any case for the introduction of a bill of rights in Hong Kong which might make the people there feel better prepared for 1997? That has already been mentioned by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, I do not think that I can comment on the suggestion about a bill of rights in Hong Kong. At the moment, as the noble Baroness will be aware, the basic law drafting committee has submitted its second revise, which is being examined through a consultative process.
As regards the basis of the suggestion that the British Nationality Act be amended, as I have said, that would be a difficult matter. I very much doubt whether the kind of proposal put forward would command sufficient political support acceptable to the public at large.
or be
Lord Wyatt of Weeford: My Lords, does not the noble Lord understand what the Chinese Foreign Minister said? He said that in exactly the same situation as with regard to Macao the Chinese Government are not at all concerned about the number of passports we issue to Hong Kong citizens. Will the Minister not also understand that there is no question of 3 million people coming here from Hong Kong? All they want is a key to the prison, if necessary. They do not wish to live here at all. They want to be able to tell the Chinese Government that if that government do not behave according to the agreement after 1997, those citizens have a way of getting out. Therefore the Chinese Government will take care to behave properly.
Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, I understand both those points. The noble Lord has made them with great clarity many times. However, I must tell him
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