(iii)
the parties can maintain and accommodate
themselves adequately without recourse to
public funds.
In practice it is most unlikely that the existing spouse of an expatriate British citizen who has been
working overseas and is returning to the United Kingdom
would not meet these requirements. Last year only 4 out
of 269 applications for entry clearance as a spouse or
fiance (e) were refused in Hong Kong and the four cases
which were refused all involved the very different
situation where a person settled in the United Kingdom sought to bring in someone he or she was marrying from
abroad.
-
-
We do, however, understand the concern of
expatriates that their spouses should be able to obtain
some evidence of their status and an assurance that if
they decided to come to the United Kingdom an application
for the necessary entry clearance would be processed
speedily. As Lord Ferrers announced in the House of
Lords on 23 July, we are therefore making arrangements
whereby the spouse of a British citizen resident in Hong
Kong may approach the Hong Kong Immigration Department
who act for us in entry clearance matters with evidence
of the marriage. The details will be noted in a register
of non-British citizen spouses of British citizens and
the spouse will be given a formal letter issued on behalf
of the Home Secretary confirming that the holder is married to a British citizen. The letter will explain
that the spouse is eligible to settle in the United
Kingdom provided that the requirements of the Immigration
Rules are met. It will also include an assurance that a
later application for entry clearance will be given