The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has work since 1967 to promote justice and remove racial discrimination in Britain's nationality and immigration laws. It is the only national independent organisation whose whole concern is the effect of these laws: it does not accept government money in order to preserve its independence and the confidence of the communities it serves. Its Executive Committee is elected annually from its membership of nearly 400 affiliated organisations throughout the UK. JCWI's President is Lord Brockway and its Trustees are Qazi Anwar, Lord Avebury, Professor Michael Dummett and Sarah Leigh.
In 1985, the British Parliament has to decide the future nationality status of its nationals in Hong Kong as part of the arrangements to hand the territory back to China in 1997. It is important that these changes should provide adequate security for all groups and individuals in Hong Kong and should reflect Britain's continuing responsibility for its nationals there during a critical period in the territory's history.
During the debates on the Hong Kong Bill in the early part of the year the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants together with others in Britain and in Hong Kong expressed concern about some of the unresolved questions and likely problems of the nationality proposals. JCWI decided to arrange a visit to Hong Kong to consult some of the people directly affected and to ensure that their views were adequately reflected in the final decision about their new status. Anne Owers, the Research and Development Officer and Raman Ruparell a JCWI Counsellor visited Hong Kong between 21 and 31 July 1985.
November 1985
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.