XN000022-1982-12-22 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1982

DESCRIPTION +BRITISH+ MOST WELCOME, LOBO SAYS

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THE DESCRIPTION +BRITISH WHICH IS TO APPEAR OPPOSITE THE WORD +NATIONALITY ON THE FIRST PAGE OF ALL BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES PASSPORTS, INCLUDING HONG KONG, WAS SEEN BY THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON ROGER LOBO, AS +MOST WELCOME NEWS AND A GREAT RELIEF+.

HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE FOUR BILLS STEMMING FROM THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981, WHICH WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE BILLS WERE THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1982, THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1982, THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981 (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 1982 AND THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.

MR LOBO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT SINCE THE BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL WAS PASSED INTO LAW ON OCTOBER 30, 1981, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS HAD CONTINUED TO REPRESENT THAT PASSPORTS ISSUED TO HONG KONG'S BRITISH SUBJECTS SHOULD CONTAIN A NATIONALITY DESCRIPTION.

THE MATTER WAS PRESSED FURTHER WHEN THE FORMER LORD PRIVY SEAL VISITED HONG KONG IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

IN MAY THIS YEAR, HE RECALLED, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE LEGAL REASONS WHY ONLY THE CITIZENSHIP DESIGNATION BDTC (BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN) SHOULD APPEAR IN HONG KONG BDTC PASSPORTS.

HOWEVER, MR LOBO NOTED, THIS VIEW WAS CHALLENGED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO ARGUED THAT IT WAS LAWFUL AND INDEED APPROPRIATE TO DESCRIBE IN A PASSPORT NOT ONLY THE HOLDER'S CATEGORY OF CITIZENSHIP, BUT ALSO THE RELATIONSHIP WHICH GIVES RISE TO THE RIGHT OF PROTECTION, I.E. NATIONALITY+.

WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER VISITED HONG KONG IN SEPTEMBER, UMELCO STRESSED AFRESH THE IMPORTANCE THEY ATTACHED TO RETAINING A NATIONALITY DESCRIPTION IN THE NEW BDTC PASSPORTS.

AND IT WAS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD THAT MRS THATCHER PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER PERSONALLY, SAID MR LOBO.

+1 WOULD LIKE TO PAY PARTICULAR TRIBUTE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ADVOCACY ON OUR BEHALF, HE SAID.

+BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT GAVE US NOTHING NEW: NOTHING WE DID NOT ALREADY POSSÉSS.

/+I CAN