TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 7

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EXPRESSED BY THE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG INDIAN ASSOCIATIONS BY

PROVIDING A CONTINUED NATIONALITY STATUS AND GUARANTEEING THEM

THE RIGHT TO STAY IN HONG KONG. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DOES NOT

BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GRANT THESE PEOPLE

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WOULD ONLY PROVIDE

RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND NOT IN HONG KONG AND

WOULD NOT THEREFORE MEET THE INDIANS' WISH TO STAY IN HONG KONG.

FURTHERMORE IF WE WERE TO GRANT BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO ONE PART

OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY IT WOULD BE DEEPLY RESENTED BY OTHER

SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO OF COURSE CONSTITUTE THE VAST

MAJORITY. THEY MIGHT ARGUE THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE BRITISH

CITIZENSHIP.

11.

FINALLY THE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THE IN THE

UNLIKELY EVENT OF ANY BRITISH NATIONAL BEING FORCED TO LEAVE HONG

KONG HAVING NOWHERE TO GO WE WOULD EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

DAY TO CONSIDER SYMPATHETICALLY WHETHER TO ADMIT THEM TO THE UK

ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS IN LIGHT OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

12.

YOU MIGHT ALSO FIND IT HELPFUL IN ANY DEALINGS WITH THE

INDIANS TO MAKE THE GENERAL POLITICAL POINT THAT THESE PEOPLE

HAVE NO TIES WITH THE UK AS SUCH, NOR, THEY SAY, ANY WISH TO

EMIGRATE TO THE UK. THEIR TIES ARE ENTIRELY IN HONG KONG, WHERE

THEY ARE WELL INTEGRATED IN THE COMMUNITY AND PLAY AN IMPORTANT

ROLE, ESPECIALLY COMMERCIALLY. WE REGARD OUR PRIME DUTY TO THEM AS BEING TO SECURE THEIR FUTURE IN HONG KONG, AND BELIEVE THAT WE

HAVE DONE SO AS FAR AS IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE. TO OFFER THEM AN

ALTERNATIVE FUTURE IN THE UK, EVEN SUPPOSING IT WERE POSSIBLE,

COULD ACTUALLY UNDERMINE THEIR PROSPECTS IN HONG KONG ONCE IT

COMES UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY.

13.

A COPY OF THE NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL FOLLOW BY BAG.

WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD REPORT ANY REACTION TO US IN

DUE COURSE, COPYING TO HONG KONG. INCIDENTALLY, THE TIMES OF INDIA REPORT, ATTACHED TO YOUR LETTER, IS WRONG IN SUGGESTING THAT THERE ARE NO INDIANS ON THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

(BLCC). MR HARI HARILELA, CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG

INDIAN ASSOCIATIONS, IS A MEMBER.

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