TNAG-1850-FCO40-2625-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 21

Obviously need to give careful thought to what might be done for

this group.

(c) Students?

Around 4,500 Hong Kong students come to UK to study each year. Recognise that this group constitutes future professionals and managers. But need to bear in mind general rule that time spent in UK as a student does not count as qualification towards citizenship. Will be reflecting further on this.

(d)

War Widows?

Around 30 or so people in this category. Do not automatically

qualify under present Immigration Rules. But as Mr Renton said in evidence to the Committee, he has a sympathetic and open mind to

this particular group of people.

(e) Spouses of British citizens?

Citizenship cannot be granted without some period of residence

in this country.

But there is no problem for spouses of British citizens to enter

this country with their partners.

(£) Non-Chinese ethnic minorities?

Government have already given public assurances to this group (around 10,000) in 1986 should they come under pressure to leave Hong Kong in future. ("Would consider it an obligation upon any

future government to treat with very considerable and particular sympathy the case for admission to the UK of any individual (in this group) who came under pressure to leave Hong Kong"). No intention

of backtracking on that.

Special provision also already made for ethnic minorities to retain British nationality (BOC) for two generations beyond 1997 if

otherwise stateless.