23 June 1993
Mr Apurba Kundu
59 Grasmere Pt
Old Kent Road
London
SE15 1DU
Dear Mr. Kundu
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
London SWŁA 2AH
Telephone: 071-
ticke
品
so
attached.
Your letter of 1 June to Mr Hurd about the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, most of whom are from the Indian sub-continent, has been passed to this department for reply.
A
First I would like to say that the British Government recognises the contribution made to Hong Kong by this community and are concerned to ensure that they can stay in Hong Kong, which what they say they want to do. The position of this community was specifically considered by Parliament during the passage of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act, 1990. It was decided after full consideration that sufficient safeguards were already in place for them and that there was no case for special treatment. Home Office Ministers have since looked again at the question on more than one occasion. Recently the Home Secretary met a delegation from the House Committee of Hong Kong's Legislative Council and told them that he had given further careful consideration to the question of British citizenship for the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. He reminded the delegation that the Government had given an assurance to the effect that if members of that community came under pressure to leave Hong Kong after 1997, the United Kingdom would consider with particular sympathy any claim they made for admission to this country. He said that there was no question of going further and granting them British citizenship.
The Government's view is that the future of the community in Hong Kong after 1997 is assured. Their right of abode in Hong Kong is protected under both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. And contrary to what you have written, no members of the ethnic minority will be made stateless in 1997; the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 ensures, in accordance with our international obligations, that this will not happen. British National (Overseas) status, like the British Dependent Territories citizenship it will replace, is a legal nationality status and confers on its holders, amongst other benefits, the right to British consular protection.
I hope that this letter answers your concerns.
Jours Sincearly Hindar
J Woodrow
Hong Kong Department
3
HKD 348/6
kun.let.NAT
SLM
24JU 1993