BY FAX
20 July 1993
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BIEU
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
London SWIA 2AH
Telephone: 071-
108
Dr S Vickers
Division 3
Security Branch
Hong Kong Government Hong Kong
Dear
Simon,
HONG KONG NATIONALITY
-
on
You should by now have received from us the Hansard for the Parliamentary exchanges on Hong Kong related matters. (That is, the Adjournment Debate on 9 July, the Committee stage in the Commons on 13 July for the two Orders in Council and in the Lords where it was taken on the floor of the House 15 July). In addition we have faxed to you the relevant extract from Mr Goodlad's session with the FAC on 14 July. You will see that Mr Goodlad undertook to consult the Home Office again on the question of British citizenship for members of the ethnic minorities. The Secretary of State, questioned along similar lines by the Hong Kong Association also said that he would look into the matter further.
We are now submitting to Ministers to suggest to them that Mr Goodlad write again to the Home Office to request a further review of the question of citizenship for this community. (We are also taking the opportunity to press again on flexibility for wives and widows of ex-servicemen ie to request that the Home Secretary exercise sympathetically his discretion to waive absences from the UK during the qualifying period prior to naturalisation). We are now on the point of submitting, but, noting that the Chief Secretary is to make a statement to LegCo on 21 July about the Orders in Council and the ethnic minorities issue, are holding back the submission so that we can say something about the Chief Secretary's statement.
I would be most grateful therefore for a quick read out on Sir David's statement (and reaction to it) so that we can factor this into our submission.
Yours ever,
Debrie
Deborah Barnes Jones
Hong Kong Department
HKCD 34816
2 í JUL 1993
[t.vickers.NAT
JEB
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