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16
Present status/progress
China interest*
UK
interest*
Issue
Objective/explanation
Secretary for Security (Cont'd)
Right of Abode in
Hong Kong
Full British Citizenship for Ethnic Minorities,
and Wives and
Widows of Servicemen
The relevant provisions in the Immigration Ordinance need to be aligned with Article 24 of the Basic Law which is slightly more generous on right of abode for one or two categories than present law.
The 7,000 or so BDTCS of chiefly Indian and Pakistani original (who have no other nationality) have had LegCo support in their lobby for full British
Nationality. LegCo also supports granting British Nationality to the wives and widows of WWII servicemen without requiring them to satisfy the residence in UK requirements. These ladies have been assured free entry into the UK for settlement at any time.
The Chinese
We handed over a set of comprehensive proposals on how to align the existing law with the Basic Law on right of abode matters at JLG XXVII. side is still seeking clarification of some technical questions and have not indicated any views at all. We are still hoping to move to align the Immigration Ordinance partially with the Basic Law first to allow foreigners to acquire right of abode in Hong Kong before 1997.
The Home Secretary has rejected the case of both the ethnic minorities and the war servicemen's wives and widows despite the passing of a motion in the House of Lords supporting the ethnic minorities' case. The Indians in Hong Kong are still lobbying hard.
CONFIDENTIAL #2
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CONFIDENTIAL #2
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