TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 43

This d

DEC 04 '85 19:16 GIS HK

DRAFT COPY

P.1

S. Cheong

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON STEPHEN CHEONG, OBE, JP

is subject to amendment saadIVE COUNCIL - 4.12.85

must not be published or broadcast

without being checked agalike the paper on the Draft Hong Kong

fish Nationality) Order 1986

as delivered by the speaker.

Sir,

I hope I am not speaking out of turn but if I do, may I

ask for your indulgence and allow me to make a plea to those MPs

debate

taking part in they in Westminster on the proposed BN(0) Order.

I

plead that they be totally honest, not only with their own conscience and honour but also with us when taking part in the

debate.

Most in Hong Kong, I am quite sure, fully recognise the stark reality that it will be a miracle if our views are ever heeded by those parliamentarians taking part in the debate involving this type of issues. That is probably why there has not been much excitement over this issue as it should have been since the BN(0) was supposed to be created for only 2 1/2 million British subjects of Hong Kong origin. In a way, Britain must be grateful for the calm and gentlemanly way in which the 2 1/2 Million Hong Kong British subjects have reacted towards the whole saga of the successive British Immigration or Nationality Acts. Throughout the past 20 odd years, we have seen the rights of British subjects in Hong Kong eroded by each successive Immigration or Nationality Act that came into force in 1962, 1971 and finally 1981, when the last nail was slipped through right

under our nose.

Sir,

I am of course too young to recall what had

happened in 1962 and 1971, but I recall vividly the events of