Foreign & Commonwealth Office
30 November 1993
Ian Taylor Esq MBE MP
MUD 340/8
RECE
мид
1 DEC 1993
London SWIA 2AH
From The Minister of State
House of Commons
London SW1A OAA
INDE
39
Dew lan
Mr Woodrow
Zile
Thank you for your letter of 18 November enclosing one from your constituent Mrs Morar Ryton, of 10 Talbot Lodge, West End Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 8NE, who is concerned about the nationality rights of those widows of Hong Kong servicemen who lost their lives in the service of the Crown.
I can well understand Mrs Ryton's feelings about the widows whose husbands bravely served in the defence of Hong Kong
Those men made a heroic during the Second World War. contribution to Hong Kong. I am sure that this is not ignored in this country.
The question of British citizenship for this small group of
The ladies has been very carefully considered by Ministers. problem is that there is no provision in 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.
I am returning your constituent's letter.
Aberta's
تقليل
ALASTAIR GOODLAD