fou have probably heard of the "three asterisk" identity card Theme now being introduced here. Under it, presumably by agreement with the Macanese and Chinese Governments, holders of such cards can pass freely between Hong Kong and those places without immigration formalities applicable to others. This results in such cardholders receiving streamlined treatment on both sides of the borders concerned.
The snag is that one has
be ethnically Chinese to enjoy the privilege (as no doubt it is) to hold a card with 3 asterisks. Even a Chinese married to a non-Chinese is not accorded one, as I understand it.
Whatever the arrangements with other powers, this practice leads to different treatment for different racial classes for some purposes in Hong Kong itself, namely at border crossings. Expatriates and indeed non Chinese born here must see such a practice as blatantly discriminatory on racial grounds and I trust it doesn't fall foul the Letters Patent under which Hong Kong is governed.
of
Department
Be that as it may,
it is obviously the Immigration that administers this scheme and it is only reasonable to ask how an organ of
Government can discriminate against a sector of the non Chinese population in some respects when at the same time it purports to exercise consular functions on their behalf? It may be that Hong Kong is the policy exception that proves the rule.
in
There is further disadvantage when one tries to register to vote as an expatriate in U.K. elections. Knowledge of the procedure detail must be a very minor part of an Immigration Officer's duties, and by nature unfamiliar to him anyway. The position is not helped by advertisements in the local press at registration time urging British expatriates to go to their local embassy or consulate to register! This i s not only nonsense to a British expatriate here but also serves to remind him of his relative lack of patriotic representation in
a global context, whatever the relevant Foreign Office policy mły be SO far as Britain's
very few
remaining dependent territories are
concerned.
I
said
a
다.
Ι am sorry to have gone on SO about this issue, but I hope what have illustrates that my suggestion for a British Representative Office here is not a frivolous one. It is something perceived a s necessary now and ever more SO as time progresses. I cannot see how the gratification of that need could really be construed as either divisive or discriminatory. Conversely, not to form such an office could be construed as such SO far a s our nationals here are concerned.
One
all round
discrimination
other hand one one seeks due
sometimes has to try hard to avoid feeling an loser as a Briton here.
On the one hand pro Chinese exists in employment and immigration, whereas on the is
as culpably discriminatory oneself if representation in a territory which has a distinctive population its own, regardless of who claims sovereignty.
seen
of
in
I have had occasion to write to "Conservatives Abroad" Central Office and whilst doing so I mentioned your experience with branch here. I gather David Smith, the Director, referred the matter to Jim Spicer as Chairman of the organisation, so
so he may raise
the
Ju..
Che pot.
2
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