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FM HONG KONG
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MDHIAN 2638
My woodrow
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WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN: LEGCO QUESTION BY THE HON
JIMMY MCGREGOR
1 MR MCGREGOR HAS ASKED THE FOLLOWING FOR ORAL REPLY ON 14 OCTOBER-
'DESPITE THE ASSURANCE GIVEN BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT THE WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN WILL BE ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN THE UK AT ANY TIME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE STILL RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG AND IN THE CASE OF WIDOWS, THAT THEY HAVE NOT RE-MARRIED, MANY OF THE WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN STILL HOPE THAT THEY CAN BE GRANTED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WITHOUT RESIDENCE IN THE U.K.. WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:
A) WHETHER ASSISTANCE WILL BE OFFERED TO THESE LADIES TO ACQUIRE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WITHOUT HAVING TO FULFIL THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT, POSSIBLY BY INCLUDING THEM AS BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME, AND, IF SO,
B) WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER SETTING UP A SPECIAL COMMITTEE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO PURSUE THE MATTER WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT URGENTLY?'
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2. WE PROPOSE REPLYING 'THE ANSWER TO BOTH QUESTIONS IS 'NO'. THE ANXIETY OF THE EX-SERVICEMEN AND THEIR WIVES AND WIDOWS IS APPRECIATED. THE GRANT OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IS, HOWEVER, A MATTER FOR HMG TO DECIDE AND PROVISIONS FOR ACQUIRING BRITISH CITIZENSHIP ARE GOVERNED BY THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981. AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER RIGHTLY STATES, THESE LADIES ARE ASSURED OF THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN THE UK AT ANY TIME SHOULD THEY SO WISH.'
3. BUT THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE SUPPLEMENTARIES, THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF WHICH MAY BE THAT THESE ARE MATTERS FOR HMG NOT HKG. BUT WE WOULD PREFER TO BE AS FORTHCOMING AS POSSIBLE AND WILL BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PROVIDE ANSWERS TO
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