{81899)
C
As
I should perhaps confirm that this Order does not make any special
provision for the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.
hon Members will be aware, the future of this group was debated on
the motion for the adjournment on 9 July and I can only repeat what I said then: that the Government sees no need to make any special citizenship provision for them. Members of this group have always
been free to apply, along with all other BDTCs, for British
citizenship under the 1990 Act selection scheme and this remains
the case. I took the opportunity, on 9 July, to repeat once more the assurance we have given on several occasions over the years,
namely that if, contrary to all expectations, members of the non-
Chinese ethnic minority in Hong Kong came under pressure to leave
Hong Kong and had nowhere else to go, the Government of the day
would be expected to consider with considerable and particular
sympathy their case for admission to the United Kingdom. This
assurance has been given in response to the special considerations
affecting the non-Chinese ethnic minority, and it naturally does
not extend to any other category.
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