FR.
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 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 if they 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.