TNAG-1790-FCO40-2550-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1988 — Page 34

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Importation of Labour

io•

10

Turning now, Sir, to the question of labour and its

importation, on which many members spoke, I have little to add

to what has already been said by the Secretary for Education

and Manpower. I would only urge employers who have a need to

import skilled staff, who cannot be found in Hong Kong, to

apply to the Immigration Department.

Wives of Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen

11.

On the subject of the right of abode for the wives

and widows of Hong Kong ex-servicemen, Members have urged the

Government to make representations to H.M. Government for the

granting of British citizenship. I can understand the problems

faced by the widows in the acquisition of British citizenship,

and for some wives in fulfilling the residence requirement.

We shall bring the points raised by Members to the attention

of the British Government. I must however caution that, if

what is being sought involves, as it would appear to do,

amendments to the British Nationality Act 1981, it would be no

small undertaking, even for a limited group of people, because

many of the provisions of that legislation are closely

interlinked, and to seek to change one part could have

ramifications for other areas. But we shall certainly look

into this and see what can be done to assist this particular

group of persons.