I am very much aware of the deep concern in Hong Kong over the
Nationality Bill. We fully understand this. My noble Friend
the Foreign Secretary and other colleagues in the Government have given personal attention to the representations that
the Government of Hong Kong and the Unofficial Members of the Legislative and Executive Councils have made to us.
These are being considered very carefully at a high level. I cannot at this point in time predict what the outcome
will be, but there are two points that I wish particularly to stress to the House. It has been suggested, and clearly many people believe, that the proposals in the Bill are
deliberately intended to distance the United Kingdom from Hong Kong and thereby to reduce its obligations to the territory. I can assure your Lordships, that nothing is
further from the truth. As my right honourable Friend
made clear
the Home Secretary said in another place on the 2nd of February, we attach great importance to our links with the Cenitory.
Hong Kong. The Bill is not aimed at Hong Kong; it is not intended in any way to weaken our ties.
Much of what has been said today has been about Hong Kong's
internal affairs. Her Majesty's Government has of course
a constitutional responsibility for the good governance of Hong Kong and my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is answerable to Parliament
/for this.
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