From: The Rt. Hon. Paul Channon, M.P.
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ANNEX A
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SWIA OAA
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H KBU
801283190
25th April, 1990
HONG KONG BILL
During the second reading debate you kindly answered my question about the non UK spouses of British citizens. I now write to you for some further clarification, and enclose a letter from The Concerned British Expatriates' Society in Hong Kong which sets out their fears in full.
From Column 1573 I understand that in future, should the UK citizen die, his or her non UK spouse would have the right of entry and abode in the UK provided they are still resident in Hong Kong and have not remarried a non UK citizen.
Is it the case that, if the UK spouse is alive, the non UK spouse has an automatic right of entry to the UK both before and after 1997? Does this mean that after the qualifying period of residence their non UK spouses would automatically become UK citizens?
I assume also that they would not have to spend all of the qualifying time in the UK, but could leave for periods abroad for holidays or business. It would be helpful to have full details of what is proposed by the Government so that I can inform those concerned in Hong Kong accordingly.
Presumably the anomaly does exist that these spouses of UK citizens can only acquire UK citizenship after a period of residence, whereas under the Hong Kong Bill anyone granted a passport has his spouse also immediately qualifying for UK citizenship without any qualifying period of residence being required?
I would be grateful if you could return the enclosed letter from The Concerned British Expatriates' Society to me in due course for my files.
77A
The Rt. Hon. David Waddington QC, MP
Secretary of State,
Home Office,
Queen Anne's Gate. ·
London SW1
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1 - MAY 1990
NUMAG, ANGION AND
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