CONFIDENTIAL
about the nature of the new card.
Ethnic Minority BDTCs
8.
During
The Minister is generally aware of the background. the progress of the Hong Kong (Nationality) Order in Council 1986 through Parliament, the Indian BDTC community in Hong Kong, directly and with the support of LegCo, requested that HMG should grant them British citizenship and therefore the right of abode in the United Kingdom. After careful deliberation this request was turned down on the grounds that proper arrangements on nationality and right of abode in Hong Kong had been made by HMG and in the Joint Declaration. But in recognition of the legitimate fears of the ethnic minority community, Lord Glenarthur said in Parliament on 16 May 1986: ... we should consider it an obligation upon any future government to treat with very considerable and particular sympathy the case for admission to the United Kingdom of any individual British national who, against all our present expectations, came
under pressure to leave Hong Kong.
9.
"
This was
a very clear assurance which has had the effect of reducing to some extent the pressure which the leaders of the Indian community are prepared to put on HMG in support of their demand for British citizenship which, however, they have not abandoned.
10.
1987.
The Minister may recall that in August Mr Hari Harilela, President of the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations, asked if
We have the Associations could meet the Minister during his visit. replied that due to the Minister's tight programme this will not be possible, but have invited the Associations to submit their
concerns in writing.
Hong Kong Department September 1987
CONFIDENTIAL
TIAL
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