25 -
Against this background, the answers to the Honourable Member's questions, in the order they are raised, are as follows:
(a)
The number of persons born to members of the Gurkha Garrison who obtained Hong Kong Permanent Identity cards in each of the past twelve months is -
End
Nov 1995
211
May 1996
402
Dec
293
Jun
262
Jan 1996
178
Jul
347
Feb
130
Aug
347
Mar
260
Sep
332
Apr
272
Oct
398
Total
3432
(b)
(c)
Note:
The figure includes 680 persons issued with Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards in connection with applications for British National (Overseas) passports submitted to the British Embassy in Nepal.
They are granted Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards because they were confirmed to have the BDTC status and, hence, have the Hong Kong permanent resident status.
The number of cases being processed at present is 1692.
Persons who have the right of abode in Hong Kong cannot be refused entry but we take careful steps in verifying the status of all claimants to the BDTC status. It should also be noted that, on and after 1 January 1983, children born to members of the Gurkha Garrison in Hong Kong could no longer acquire the BDTC status. This is because the British Nationality Act, which came in force on 1 January 1983, stated that a person born in a British Dependent Territory will only have the BDTC status if, at the time of his birth, one of his parents was settled in Hong Kong. Members of the Gurkha Garrison were not considered to be settled in Hong Kong; hence children born to them in Hong Kong on or after 1 January 1983 would not have the Hong Kong BDTC status.