FORMER SERVICEMEN
AMONG THOSE WHO WILL ALSO BE DISPOSSESSED IN 1997 OF THIS DRAFT
ORDER *S PASSED ARE FEWER THAN 400 FORMER SERVICEMEN, WHO FOUGHT FOR KING AND COUNTRY IN DEFENCE OF HONG KONG AND N OTHER THEATRES
OF WAR DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. SECTION 4 OF THE BRITISH
NATIONALITY ACT 1981 GIVES THE HOME SECRETARY DISCRETION TO REGISTER
A HONG KONG BDTC AS A BRITISH CITIZEN AND TO WAIVE THE RESIDENTIAL
REQUIREMENTS IF HE HAS BEEN IN CROWN SERVICE : THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT WILL GIVE SYMPATHETIC
CONSIDERATION TO ALL APPLICATIONS FROM THESE EX-SERVICEMEN. TO DENY
THEM THIS CONSIDERATION WOULD BE TO DISOWN A BRAVE AND LOYAL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO, MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, DESERVE BRITAIN'S GRATITUDE
NOT HER INDIFFERENCE.
THER IS A GOOD DEAL OF LINGERING CYNICISM IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE
GRADUAL ER NSION OF THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF BRITISH SUBJECTS
OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM AS A RESULT OF SUCCESSIVE
AMENDMENTS IN RECENT YEARS TO THE LAWS GOVERNING NATIONALITY AND
IMMIGRATION. THE FORTHCOMING DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ON THE WHITE
PAPER MAY BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BRITISH PEOPLE TO
DEMONSTRATE THEIR SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS
IN HONG KONG AT THIS TIME OF TRANSITION FROM BRIZISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY TO CHINESE SOVEREIGN TERRITORY. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE SO STRONGLY ADVOCATED THEIR THREE PROPOSALS BECAUSE
THEY BELIEVE THAT ACCEPTANCE OF THEM WILL GO SOME WAY TO RESTORE
FAITH IN BRITAIN'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AMONG THOSE OF HER
SUBJECTS WHOSE ANXIETY FOR THE FUTURE IS GREATEST.
YOURS SINCERELY,
LYDIA DUNN
SENFOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER
UNQUOTE
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/NTD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
DEP HD/PUSD
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING MR WILSON
3.
COPIES TO:
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD
MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE
MF EMERY, B4 DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON
MF. NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE
ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.
MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.