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United Kingdom without visas on bona fide visits. We hope that an acceptable form of wording will be available well before the revised Order is introduced into Parliament.
Since our motion on 8 January, which included the request to make full British citizens the few remaining British nationals in Hong Kong who fought for the
the defence of British territory, we have learned from research carried out by the Hong Kong Government that the total number of ex-servicemen is no more than 270, and not 400, as was previously estimated. We hope that the British Government will take account of this small number and grant them full British citizenship.
You will, I think, have received а copy of a letter from the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations to the Home Secretary dated 17 February 1986. I need make no comment on the logical and powerful argument that the letter conveys, except to stress that Members of the Legislative Council fully support the Council's case and believe strongly that full British citizenship should be granted to all Hong Kong BDTCs of non-Chinese origin who have no other nationality. We have made it clear that the Chinese majority in Hong Kong will not begrudge the minorities
not this treatment, and this view has been echoed many times in the past few weeks by prominent organisations and private citizens throughout the territory. It is therefore quite misleading of the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Waddington, to suggest that there will be a "knock-on effect" if this request is granted.
It now remains for the British Government to find a solution to this nationality problem that will satisfy Parliament and put the worries and uncertainties of so many people in Hong Kong to rest. We rely very much on you to help ensure this, and we have no
no doubt that you will continue to strive on our behalf for a just solution.
For your convenience I am enclosing a copy of my original letter to
letter to Peers and MPs of 3 January 1986 and a copy of my speech in the Legislative Council on 8 January 1986.
With very best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
لسما
Lydia DUNN
Senior Unofficial Member
ידן
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