TNAG-1567-FCO40-2132-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 113

Council of Hongkong Indian Associations

c/o TST P. O. BOX 95106, HONG KONG

Telex: 43500-HARI-HX Cable "INDCOUNCIL" Tel: 3-7218844

Member Associations :

THE INDIAN CHAMBER

OF COMMERCE

THE HINDU ASSOCIATION

THE INDIA ASSOCIATION

THE INDIA CLUB

THE KHALSA DIWAN

THE HONG KONG INDIAN WOMEN'S CLUB

THE NAV BHARẠT CLUB

17th February, 1986

Rt. Hon. Douglas Hurd, MP

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Home Office

Queen Anne's Gate

London S.W.1

Dear Mr. Hurd,

We write on behalf of the Hong Kong Indian Ethnic Community ("Hong Kong Indians") and other members of the non-Chinese ethnic minority population of Hong Kong, who are British Dependent Territory Citizens ("BDTCs").

As you know it is our objective to persuade Her Majesty's Government ("HMG") to grant to the Hong Kong Indians and the other non-Chinese BDTCs British citizenship and the right of abode in the United Kingdom ("UK") in anticipation of the transfer of sovereignty and jurisdiction from HMG to the Government of the People's Republic of China ("PRC") on the 1st July 1997 ("the transfer date").

We are aware that it is proposed to lay the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 before Parliament before Easter. If the Order remains in the form of the draft attached to the White Paper of 17th October 1985 ("the White Paper"), our objective will not be achieved. Hence this letter at this time.

May we respectfully remind you of certain important events, which preceded the debates in both Houses of Parliament in January 1986 on the White Paper?

We submitted to the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils of Hong Kong a petition dated 27th November 1985 ("the Petition") in support of our case. That Petition was described in the course of the debate in the House of Commons by a former Foreign Office Minister, Sir Peter Blaker MP, as "a model of clarity", and, for ease of reference, we enclose it with this letter. It contains the essential arguments in our favour, which remain unchanged, and which, we respectfully consider, have not yet been satisfactorily answered by HMG.

The White Paper was debated by the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on 4th December 1985.

President: MR. H. N. HARILELA, OBE JP

Vice President: MR. K. SITAL, JP

Its

Abers (Chinese and

REGISTRY

2 6FEB 1986

RECEIVED

Contd./

Hon. Secretary: MR. K. B. RATHI Hon. Treasurer: MR. J. MULCHAND

Council Members: MR. S. A. AMEEN MRS. KAMLA KAPAHI MR. G. B. MAHBUBANI MR. LACHMAN NARAIN.

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