WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1982
3
+THESE ARE POLICY MATTERS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
+GIVEN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, THE GROUP FEELS THAT THE PROPOSED MEASURES ARE JUSTIFIED.+
MR WONG EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW DEFINITION OF HONG KONG BELONGER ENSURED THAT THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO LAND AND REMAIN IN HONG KONG WAS ENJOYED ONLY BY THOSE WHO HAD ACQUIRED BDTC STATUS BY CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG.
WHILE AGREEING THAT THE NEW DEFINITION WOULD BE MORE RESTRICTIVE IN PRACTICAL TERMS, HE ESTIMATED THAT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS AFFECTED WOULD BE RELATIVELY SMALL.
HE ALSO SPELLED OUT VARIOUS CHANNELS WHEREBY A CHILD BORN AFTER DECEMBER 31, 1982 COULD BECOME A BDTC.
TO ACQUAINT THE PUBLIC WITH THE NEW LAW, MR WONG NOTED THAT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OPERATES A SPECIAL NATIONALITY SECTION WHICH DEALS EXCLUSIVELY WITH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT AND THE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO HONG KONG'S OWN ORDINANCES.
THERE IS ALSO A TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE AND AN EXPLANATORY PAMPHLET IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE, HE ADDED.
MR SWAINE CONFINED HIS COMMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL WHICH PROVIDES, INTER ALIA, A NEW DEFINITION OF HONG KONG BELONGER+ TO ENSURE THAT THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO LAND AND REMAIN IN HONG KONG IS ENJOYED ONLY BY THOSE BDTCS WHO HAVE ACQUIRED BDTC BY CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG.
HE SAID THAT UNDER THE PRESENT IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE ONLY HONG KONG BELONGERS HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG.
BUT ONE CANNOT BE A HONG KONG BELONGER WITHOUT FIRST BEING A BRITISH SUBJECT AND SHOWING HIS HONG KONG CONNECTION,
I.E. BY BIRTH, NATURALISATION OR REGISTRATION IN HONG KONG, OR BY MARRIAGE TO OR BEING THE CHILD OF SUCH A PERSON.
+THE DIFFICULTY WHICH ARISES RELATES TO THOSE CHILDREN BORN IN HONG KONG ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1983 WHO DO NOT QUALIFY AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS UNDER THE CRITERIA DESCRIBED EARLIER,+ SAID MR SWAINE.
+ARE WE NEVERTHELESS TO CONSTITUTE THEM AS HONG KONG BELONGERS, THEREBY CREATING A CLASS OF BELONGER WITHOUT CITIZENSHIP?
+ IT WOULD BE WITHIN OUR POWER TO DO SO BUT WOULD IT BE RIGHT FOR US TO DO SO7+ HE ASKED.
THE POINTED