Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Dr J H Grayson
Director of Studies
Institute of Korean Studies
University of Sheffield Sheffield S10 2TN
Telephone 01-
Your reference
SAIAAG
File
(363)
Our reference
23
Date
April 1990
Dear dr Grayson,
#ко 24014
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 1 JUN 1990
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
I have been asked to reply to your letter of
REGISTRY
Action Taken
trary to the
Foreign Secretary about Hong Kong. I and sorry that it was taken so long for us to reply.
As the Prime Minister has made clear, there is simply no way in which the Government could grant British citizenship to all 3.28 million holders of BDTC passports in Hong Kong. That would be an enormous new immigration commitment on an unprecedented scale. It would be irresponsible to make commitments or raise expectations that no future British Government could possibly
meet.
Your mention the change in the status of passports held by Hong Kong people. In 1962, as you are no doubt aware, the British Government took the decision that from then on British Citizenship should be based not merely on the imperial connection, but on a close connection to Britain. That principle continues to be the foundation of British Citizenship as set out recently in the British Nationality Act 1981. It was in consequence of this principle, applied worldwide and not aimed specifically at Hong Kong, that the status of British Nationals in Hong Kong was amended. They have therefore not had the right of abode in the United Kingdom since 1962.
It is not true however to say that their passports are "worthless". They continue to enjoy all the rights worldwide that a British passport conveys, (including visa free entry to the United Kingdom, and the right to British consular representation) with the exception of right of abode in the UK.
As you will no doubt be aware, legislation was recently put before Parliament which will grant full British citizenship to certain people in Hong Kong. The Government's aim is to give key people in the public and private sectors in the territory the assurance needed to persuade them to remain in Hong Kong. British citizenship will be awarded without the beneficiary ever having to leave the territory. In setting a ceiling on the scheme - 50,000 heads of household or about 225,000 individuals
SAIAAG