TNAG-0661-FCO40-810-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1977 — Page 77

REACTIONS IN HONG KONG

5. I cannot add to what I have already said in reply to

the Hon Member's Question.

STATISTICS

6. Total population of Hong Kong at the end of 1976:

4.5 million

Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies 2.6 million Other British subjects (mainly citizens

of other Commonwealth Countries) Hong Kong residents holding British

passports

RIGHT OF ENTRY TO THE UK

•

under 30,000

406,000

7.

(a)

Numbers

No exact figures are available but it has been estimated that the total number of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies resident in Hong Kong and having the right of entry to the United Kingdom is not likely to be more than a few thousand. This excludes members of HM Forces and Hong Kong residents holding British passports already residing in Britain.

(b) Effect of Green Paper proposals

The ideas suggested in the Green Paper do not affect the right of entry to the UK of those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies already possessing

that right.

RIGHT OF FREE MOVEMENT IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

8. Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies connected with Hong Kong do not (aside from a very small proportion who are also connected with the United Kingdom) have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. They therefore do not have the right of free movement in the European Community, and possible changes discussed in the Green Paper would not operate to confer this right on them.

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