mypa
MKD
The ion Mr Mostin
MrMostin
British nationals holding British passports we hereby lodge our strong protest against this procedure for 2 reasons.
1. We are of the strong conviction that it is unconstitutional and immoral to vest the power of "recommendation" with Her Majesty's appointee, Governor Wilson. As British nationals in allegiance with Your Majesty, our British citizenship and constitutional position is as British as Sir David Wilson's. Any "authority" for Governor Wilson to affect our registration as British citizens would thus have to been seen as unconstitutional.
Hongkong British nationals who are not dual nationals have already made their stand in no vague terms regarding their British citizenship rights. Any "application for the Governor's recommendation for registration as a British citizen" would be deemed unconstitutional and immoral.
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2. We object to the discriminatory flavour of this Governor's "selection scheme". The enclosed 32 page application "form" is self explanatory with regard to
selection of class and occupational group e.g. general occupation, entrepreneur,
disciplined service, sensitive service
proficiency in English language
education and training
professional and vocational qualifications
income
tax paid
investment
turnover of business in Hongkong
number of employees
shareholding in business
connections with the United Kingdom
public or community service
special merits'
residence in Hongkong
absence from Hongkong
The enclosed Form A for UK passport application is in marked contrast to this Form BN (HK) 1 This long list of criteria is conspicuous by its absence in Form A. FormA is the regular UK passport application form for British citizens, British Oversea citizens, and British Dependent Territory Citizens.
By requesting Hongkong people to apply for "Governor's recommendation for registration as a British citizen" Britain would be seen to subject her nationals to the Governor's discriminatory recommendation i.e. blatant discrimination on a territorial and racial basis. Proofs of racism and discrimination was full and abundant in the House of Commons during the fateful debate of the 1990 British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill on April 19th 1990.
If the principle of equality of citizenship rights for British nationals is to be upheld, any Governor's recommendation based on this list of criteria must be denounced.
Under British jurisdiction, all British passport holders hold full and equal citizenship rights. The "recommendation" by one British national (David Wilson) to insert or not insert (thus tantamount to depriving) the status of "British citizen" in the passport of another British national (the applicant) must be deemed immoral and unconstitutional.
We put it to Your Majesty to effect the necessary rectification of the above mentioned misdeeds. This 7th day of February 1991
A group of 350 Hongkong British Nationals c/o 1B 438 Nathan Road Kowloon Hongkong