RESTRICTED
040335
MDHIAN 18
(NOTE: IT WILL BE USEFUL TO ADD A SHORT EXPLANATION
OF WHAT BOC STATUS MEANS IN TERMS OF BENEFITS TO THE HOLDER. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INDIAN COMMUNITY SPOKESMEN HAVE SAID THAT BOC-SHIP IS 'MEANINGLESS'. WE NEED A POSITIVE LINE-TO-TAKE. GRATEFUL YOUR ADVICE).
(B) THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO ON MANY OCCASIONS GIVEN THE ASSURANCES THAT, IF ANY SOLELY BRITISH NATIONAL WITH NO CLAIM TO CHINESE NATIONALITY CAME UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE TO LEAVE HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY WOULD CONSIDER WITH CONSIDERABLE AND PARTICULAR SYMPATHY THEIR CASE FOR ADMISSION TO THE UK. THAT ASSURANCE WAS REPEATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING PARLIAMENT'S CONSIDERATION OF THE NATIONALITY SCHEME.
(C) IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT SPECIAL PROVISION BE MADE FOR THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE NATIONALITY SCHEME. BUT THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHEME IS TO RETAIN KEY PERSONNEL IN HONG KONG: 'KEY' BEING ASSESSED IN TERMS OF CRITERIA AGREED WITH THE HOME OFFICE. MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES WHO MEET THOSE CRITERIA WILL OF COURSE BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE SCHEME IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER HONG KONG RESIDENTS. THE POSITION OF THOSE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THOSE ARRANGEMENTS WILL, OF COURSE, DEPEND ON THEIR NATIONALITY AND ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SPECIAL PROVISION FOR THEM IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE BNS.
(D) FOR THESE REASONS, I CONSIDER THAT THE POSITION OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED AND PROVIDED FOR. ULTIMATELY, THE QUESTION OF BRITISH NATIONALITY IS A MATTER FOR THE UK GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS ALREADY MADE ITS POSITION CLEAR.
(E) I THEREFORE OPPOSE THE MOTION.
4. GRATEFUL YOUR ADVICE DESKBY 0001Z ON SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER. APOLOGIES FOR SHORT NOTICE WHICH REFLECTS LATE SUBMISSION OF THE MOTION.
PATTEN
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