FROM HONG KONG BILL UNIT
3.
04.19.1990 11:11
NO. 2
P. 4
in the period before 1997.
emigrating do so reluctantly, because it is the only means of
acquiring the assurance of a foreign passport. And third, most
of them would remain if such an assurance were available without
the need to leave Hong Kong.
Second, most of those who are
I freely recognise that the remedy which the Bill offers
represents an unprecedented departure from the normal principles
of our nationality law, and we considered very carefully whether
a scheme leading to entry clearance rather than full citizenship
would suffice. But we have concluded that such a scheme would
not resolve the problem. It would have precisely the opposite
effect to that intended and would draw to the United Kingdom the
people given guarantees. They would be anxious to get their
children into Britain while the children were still under age and
qualified for entry under the Immigration Rules. They would be
determined to establish the residential qualification for
citizenship as soon as possible.
The Governor of Hong Kong has assured us that assurances of
citizenship as provided in the Bill is the only effective way of
restoring confidence and maintaining prosperity, and all the
evidence emerging from Hong Kong supports this.