TNAG-1849-FCO40-2624-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 11

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TRANSCRIPT H: SELECT COMMITTEE RE HONG KONG 24 MAY 1989

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MR. TIM RENTON (COFTFD):

Minister responsible for Hong Kong, the work of the

Assessment Office, of the strong desire to consult within

the Foreign

pace

Hong Kong and I would have thought that

Office that that was in a large measure a response to the

point that there is no say on the matter.

On the question that there is an obligation on the

UK to give a right of abode to effectively all those

living in Hong Kong, I would just say that right of abode effectively equates in this country to settlement leading

on to citizenship. There is not to a layman very much

of a difference between right of abode and settlement

which would imply after normally a further year in this country an ability to apply for citizenship and a British

passport.

thesis.

I cannot say that I think that that is a tenable

The whole purpose of our immigration controls and

the Nationality Act of 1981 was essentially only to give

British citizenship to those who clearly either belonged

A

themselves to this country by virtue of residence here, by

virtue of having put their roots down in this country or who, by virtue of very close relationship through a parent

equally had a very close tie with this country.