RE
HRD 346/8
INUL
27 JAN 1993
FICE
A
SI
on Take
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
A
London SWIA 2AH
22 January 1993
Rt Hon David Hunt MBT MR
House of Commons
London SW1A QAA
سال
David
1)
From The Minister of State
Mv Word now to see
2) pa
Ms, Barnes- Jones
28.
'copy'
Miss Buss please send
to HKG por information.
2711
Thank you for your letter of 14 January forwarding one from your constituent, Brigadier White, of 8 Kings Court, Hoylake, Wirral about British passports for the Hong Kong based wives and widows, of former servicemen.
I well understand why your constituent raises this issue, on the basis of the moving letter published in the South China Morning Post.
There is no power in nationality law as it now stands to grant citizenship to these wives and widows while they remain in Hong Kong. New primary legislation would be needed.
After thoroughly debating the question of full British citizenship during the second reading of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990, Parliament decided not to exempt the wives and widows of servicemen serving in the defence of Hong Kong during the Second World War from the residential requirements of the BNA. However, the then Home Secretary, during the course of the debate, gave the assurance that they would at any time be allowed to come to the United Kingdom to settle and to apply for British citizenship in the usual way. The assurance applies irrespective of the husband's nationality.
The Government has also introduced arrangements to register the spouses of ex-servicemen with the Immigration Department in Hong Kong, so that any subsequent application for entry clearance can be processed very quickly indeed.
The letter enclosed by your constituent criticizes the British Nationality Scheme (BNS) set up under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 for rejecting applications
This submitted by wives of ex-servicemen and war widows. scheme operates under a point system and targets key people
The working in Hong Kong in the public and private sectors. successful applicant tends to be well below retirement age and It is in active employment in one of a number of key sectors. designed to anchor such people in Hong Kong and allow them with confidence to continue to make their contribution to the
257.
/territory's