TNAG-1262-FCO40-1602-MPs--letters-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 114

dc

DRAFT LETTER

ADDRESSEE'S REFERENCE

TO

Sir William Clark MP

House of Commons

LONDON

SW1A OAA.

IMG/83 9/387/2(S)

FILE NUMBER

ENCLOSURES

COPIES TO BE SENT TO

(FULL POSTAL ADDRESS)

(FULL ADDRESSES, IF NECESSARY)

LETTER DRAFTED FOR SIGNATURE BY

Mr Waddington Lord Elton

S 536

H.O. EST. 112

In David Waddington's absence I am replyug (NAME OF SIGNATORY)

Thank you for your letter of 8 September to Leon Brittan in which you urge the necessity of making clear the Government's

position on the future of the people of Hong. Kong and their

status as regards immigration into the United Kingdom.

Under the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983, some 2.9 million residents of Hong Kong

acquired British Dependent Territories citizenship. As such,

if they wish to come to the United Kingdom they will have to

qualify under the current immigration rules in the normal way.

Recent estimates suggest that there are in Hong Kong a further

19,000 people with the right of abode in the United Kingdom

who became British citizens on 1 January 1983. As British

citizens they have the right to live in the United Kingdom

permanently and will be free to leave and re-enter it at any

time.

Let me emphasise that the Government remains deeply committed

to the future of Hong Kong, and following the Prime Minister's

visit to China in September of last year a series of meetings

have begum to find a solution which will be acceptable not only

to Britain and China but also of course to the people of Hong Kong.