30 November 1993
James R Couchman Esq MP
House of Commons
London SW1A OAA
HIRD 340 18
RECEIVED IN C
SK
-3 DEC 1993
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
London SW1A 2AH
From The Minister of State
Dear Janes
INDEA
Thank you for your letter of 22 November, enclosing a copy of one from Mrs Margaret Vallance, of 12 Chestfield Close, Rainham, Kent ME8 7DR, about the Chinese widows of British soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the Crown.
I can well understand Mrs Vallance's feelings about these widows whose husbands bravely served in the defence of Hong
Those men made a heroic Kong during the Second World War. contribution to Hong Kong. I am sure that this is not ignored in this country.
The
The question of British citizenship for this small group of ladies has been very carefully considered by Ministers. problem is that there is no provision in our nationality law to grant British citizenship to a person who is not resident in the United Kingdom. So we do not have the power to grant what they are asking for. But assurances have been given by Ministers that these ladies could settle in the United Kingdom at any time and apply for British citizenship in the normal way. We have also done all we can to ensure that if any of these ladies want to apply for entry clearance to the United Kingdom, their applications can be processed very quickly.
نتسلار
ALASTAIR GOODLAD
42