TNAG-1849-FCO40-2624-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 16

24 MAY '89 19:47

FROM COI TECH RADIO

01 633 0920

AGE.014

TRANSCRIPT H: SELECT COMMITTEE RE HONG KONG 24 MAY 1989

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MR.

BOVEN VELLS:

There are two notable exceptions to your statement

on the Nationality Act of 1981, are there not?

First of all, the Falklands Islands which has its

own Nationality Act of 1983 and then also the treatment of

Gibraltarians.

Both were brought to our attention and used in argument as precedents which should guide us in relation to our attitude to nationality and right of abode of Hong Kong citizens and, as you possibly realise, the fact that

we had done this led to accusations of a racist nature to

our nationality decisions.

Can you explain the two exceptions to the 1981

Citizenship Act?

MR. TIX RENTON;

I think, Mr. Vells, that the accusation of racism

would be quite unfounded and unjustified.

The exact status and the nature of the position of

the Gibraltarians and the Falkland Islanders is spelt out between paragraphs 2 and 8 of the Supplementary Memorandum that we sent your Committee, but if I might summarise and pick out the highlights rather than run through the whole

an important point: of it, at the peril of leaving out