XN000022-1993-07-21 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1993

GOVT STRONGLY REPRESENTS NATIONALITY MATTERS TO UK

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NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE DECIDED TO WRITE TO THE HOME SECRETARY URGING HIM TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF GIVING FULL NATIONALITY TO MEMBERS OF THE NON-CHINESE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN HONG KONG.

THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO WRITTEN AGAIN TO MINISTERS SAYING THAT HE HOPED HONG KONG'S VIEWS WOULD BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WEDNESDAY).

TODAY

IN A STATEMENT ON BRITISH NATIONALITY MATTERS, SIR DAVID SAID GOVERNOR HAD ALSO TAKEN UP THE ISSUE OF WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX- SERVICEMEN WITH LONDON.

THE

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE HOME OFFICE TO CONSIDER EXERCISING FLEXIBILITY VIS-A-VIS THIS GROUP AS FAR AS THE QUALIFYING PERIOD OF NATURALISATION OR REGISTRATION WAS CONCERNED.

SAID.

THE

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"WE SHALL GO ON PRESSING FOR THIS AS HARD AS WE CAN, SIR DAVID

HE SAID BOTH ISSUES WERE RAISED IN THE EXCO MEETING YESTERDAY.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT UNDERSTOOD GREAT CONCERN OF THE LEGCO AND THE COMMUNITY ON BRITISH NATIONALITY MATTERS FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE AND THAT IT SHOULD GO ON REPRESENTING THEM AS STRONGLY AS IT COULD TO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.

APPLICATION

ON THE PHASED BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PROGRAMME WHICH IS NOW UNDERWAY, SIR DAVID SAID THE FIRST CUT-OFF DATE FOR REGISTRATION, FOR 22 TO 26 YEAR OLDS, WOULD COME AT THE END OF OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

HE ALSO SAID THE DRAFT BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) (SELECTION SCHEME) (AMENDMENT) ORDER 1993 PROVIDED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO BE MADE IN A SECOND TRANCHE UNDER BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME, BEGINNING AT THE START OF NEXT YEAR.

THE

SIR DAVID SAID THIS ORDER AMENDED THE METHOD FOR ALLOCATING THE QUOTA AMONG GROUPS, AND PROVIDED THE GOVERNOR WITH FLEXIBILITY TO RE- ALLOCATE THE QUOTA IF ANY PARTICULAR GROUP WAS UNDER-SUBSCRIBED.

IT ALSO MAKES SOME MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE POINT SYSTEM.

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