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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 11110OZ FCO
TELNO 2685
OF 11093OZ NOVEMBER 92
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HKCD 340/A.
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040335
MDHIAN 7218
ethnic minorities
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ETHNIC MINORITIES.
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LEGCO MEMBER JIMMY MCGREGOR HAS TABLED A MOTION FOR DEBATE ON 18 NOVEMBER
'THAT THIS COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN HONG KONG IN TERMS OF THEIR NATIONALITY BEFORE AND AFTER 1997 AND TO TAKE SUCH STEPS AS MAY BE OPEN TO IT TO ENSURE THAT CITIZENS OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES WHO HAVE LIVED IN HONG KONG AS PERMANENT RESIDENTS FOR MANY YEARS DO NOT BECOME STATELESS IN 1997'
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THIS IS TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH A PETITION FOR THE GOVERNOR FROM THE INDIAN COMMUNITY. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE PETITION YET BUT THEY HAVE SAID PUBLICLY THAT THEY WANT EITHER FULL 'BRITISH CITIZEN' PASSPORT'S OR THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN THE UK (THEY PROBABLY HAVE IN MIND AN ASSURANCE LIKE THAT GIVEN TO THE WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN). THEY HAVE ALSO MENTIONED THE NATIONALITY SCHEME AS A MECHANISM FOR GIVING THEM WHAT THEY WANT. ALL THESE POINTS ARE LIKELY TO ARISE IN THE DEBATE.
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IN REPLY TO THE MOTION WE PROPOSE ADAPTING THE PARLIAMENTARY REPLY ON EURASIANS IN YOUR TELNO 1263 OF 5 JULY 1990 -
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(A) CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THE POSITION OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES DURING THE DRAFTING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW. IN 1990, UK MINISTERS RECONSIDERED THE QUESTION DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME (BNS). THEY CONCLUDED AND THIS REMAINS THEIR VIEW THAT THE NON-CHINESE ETHNIC MINORITIES' RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF HONG KONG WAS ADEQUATELY PROTECTED BOTH IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND IN THE BASIC LAW. IN ADDITION, THE HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986 ALREADY ASSURES THE ETHNIC MINORITIES THAT THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF THOSE WHO ARE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENS PRIOR TO 1 JULY 1997 WILL HAVE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP IF THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE STATELESS.
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