TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 200

8.3

Such circumstances

as might lead the Government of

the PRC to breach the agreement would be likely to be the

sort of circumstances in which they would and could resist

any effort, if any, made by HMG to enforce it against them.

9.

There

have been three main waves of Indian

immigration to Hong Kong: those who came at and after the

time when the Union Jack was first raised in Hong Kong;

those who came at and on account of the partition of India;

and those who have come in recent years. They are united

by the fact that they came of their Own free will. In the

words of the Petition by the Council to His Excellency, Sir

Edward Youde, GCMG, MBE, Governor-in-Council dated the 17th

January 1985 "they chose Hong Kong because Hong Kong was

part of the British Empire or Commonwealth, because they

had faith in the laws and the system of government of Great

Britain and because they chose to give or continue their

allegiance to Great Britain".

9.1

At the time of the partition of India, those in

the second group mentioned in 9 above, had the choice of

Indian citizenship and

remaining in India and claiming

nationality, or departing

Commonwealth

to

another region of the

and retaining British citizenship and

nationality. The ethnic Indians in that group chose the

latter course, and, accordingly surrendered their right to

Indian citizenship and nationality. To quote again from

the Petition a member of that group "did So because he

thought he would be secure in being a member of that

community whose way of life he had adopted, whose laws and

systems he respected, whose institutions he revered and to

whom he deliberately gave his allegiance".

7