TNAG-1564-FCO40-2129-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 131

OFFICIAL EDITORIAL FROM TA KUNG PO

18/1/86

"WADDINGTON'S ARGUMENTS DEVOID OF REASON"

Unofficial members of the Legislative and Executive Councils yesterday expressed their strong displeasure with the attitude of the British Government during the debate on the Hong Kong

(Nationality) order.

Their anger is understandable as the person representing the British Government, Minister of State for the Home Office, Mr. David Waddington, rejected the 3 requests made by Legco members by using arguments which were far from convincing:-

(1)

(2)

Firstly, Waddington argued that if an endorsement was placed in the BN (0) passport stating that the holder could freely enter and leave the UK, that would amount to saying that the holder was exempt from immigration control and argument and what Legco requested are 2 completely different things. What Legco proposed was that like the present BDTC passport, the BN (0) passport should not have to carry a visa requirement, and also that the holder of a BN (O) passport be entitled to the same treatment as a BDTC passport holder so

This is all that was as to be spared suspicion and trouble. requested, so where does the question of exemption from immigration control arise? To use this as an excuse to reject this demand is to use an argument which is devoid of

reason.

Secondly, Legco members requested that 400 or so ex-servicemen should be granted British citizenship. Waddington countered this by saying that these 400 men were not the only ones who suffered during the war. So why should special priveleges be granted to a few people only. This argument deliberately misses the point, and is totally unreasonable.

(3) The argument used against the granting of British citizenship to non ethnic Chinese minorities is even less convincing. Legco members had requested that the 10,000 or so non ethnic Chinese BDTC be granted British citizenship, otherwise they and their children may become stateless. Waddington said the Sino-British Agreement clearly guarantees these people the right of abode in Hong Kong. But what does this right of abode have to do with citizenship?

Both the Executive and Legislative Councillors reiterated yesterday that it is entirely within the gift of the British Government to implement these 3 requests. Britain should not try to avoid its responsibilities.

It now appears that when the British Foreign Affairs Minister with special responsibility for Hong Kong, Mr. Timothy Renton, arrives in Hong Kong next week, he will face the strong demands of both Exco and Legco members regarding their 3 requests, and he cannot shrug them off by merely uttering a few words.