BACKGROUND NOTE
The two questions from Sir Patrick Wall address two slightly different concepts and it is helpful to answer them on different bases.
The first question asks about the numbers of those in Hong Kong with "the right
of entry into Great Britain". This can reasonably be distinguished from those who might be permitted to enter for settlement and may be taken to refer to those
with the right of abode. It is estimated that (excluding members of the Armed Forces) there are some 14,900 British Citizens in Hong Kong and there may be a
small number of Commonwealth citizens with a right of abode also, although we have
no way of knowing the numbers involved. Nor do we know the numbers of dependants
involved.
The categories who will be permitted to enter the United Kingdom for settlement on the hand-over of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997 is
hypothetical.
But we can reasonably confirm that this will extend to those with
a right of abode in the United Kingdom, to the 270 former servicemen who have been assured that they will be allowed to come here with their dependants for settlement including those who do not qualify to be registered under section 4(5) for British citizenship, and others who meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules applying
at the time.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.