The Disciplined Services Class covers not only the Navy and Army but also the Police, the Prison Service, the Government Flying Service, the Independent Commission against Corruption, Customs and Excise, the Fire Service and the Immigration Service. Each has a quota allocated in accordance with the formula set out in Article 21 of the 1990 Order. People in all these categories have provided loyal and valued services in the Territory. Because of the constraints on the overall number of British citizenship places which can be awarded under the Scheme and the need to provide for all sectors of the Hong Kong community, competition for the places for the Disciplined Services Classes has generally been heavy in the first tranche. It has been especially intense amongst the Army and Navy personnel. The same is likely to be the case for the second tranche although the LEP will benefit slightly from a reallocation of quotas in the second tranche to take account of under-demand for places amongst other groups.
The Home Office is the Department with primary responsibility for the 1990 Act and the Orders which I have referred to. I speak for them when I say that I cannot hold out any hope of amendments to the current legislation to introduce the changes you suggest. There is no prospect of the 50,000 total which is enshrined in the British Nationality Act 1990 being increased through primary legislation.
I am sorry to disappoint you. But I can assure you, that in the final years of the British administration we will do all we can to lay the foundations for the continued prosperity and well-being of the entire community in Hong Kong, not least by leaving Hong Kong with the self confident institutions it will need to preserve freedoms and the rule of law after 1997.
buno sincerely
по
Bastloss
Douglas Hogg