TNAG-1896-FCO40-2690-Calls-on-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 68

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Hong Kong Chinese:

[ 2 FEBRUARY 1989 ]

The chain and vice-chairman are normally members

the authority. The new customer services committees will be independent of the new companies and will be appointed by the director-general.

Lord Beloff: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that Question Time in this House is too valuable to be used for Second Reading debates on legislation which has not yet come before us?

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, in congratulating the noble Lord on his appointment to the Department of the Environment, may I ask him to reconsider his answer to my noble friend Lord Strabolgi? Surely price is part of the service and if the price becomes excessive the consumer is getting a poorer service. Secondly, will the Minister confirm that the controls to be exercised by the director- general of water supplies apply only to water supply and sewerage and not to the other activities of the new water companies?

Lord Hesketh: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, for his kind words. In answer to the first part of his question, I will be more than happy to reply to his noble friend Lord Strabolgi if he puts down a Question concerning price. The Question on the Order Paper clearly refers to the services received and the protection thereafter.

Lord Molloy: My Lords, is the noble Lord prepared to consider that Britain's rambling associations and horse riding clubs are also, to a degree, consumers of land which will ultimately be privatised?

Noble Lords: Order!

Lord Molloy: My Lords, will their views be taken into account?

Hong Kong Chinese: EC Passports

3.15 p.m.

Lord Wyatt of Weeford asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements they propose to make for the issue of EC passports to Hong Kong Chinese British dependent territory citizens comparable to those made by the Portuguese authorities for Macau Chinese citizens.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur): My Lords, Hong Kong British dependent territory citizens and British nationals overseas will in due course be issued with ritish passports in Hong Kong which are similar to The EC common format passport but without the Community references. Neither these arrangements or those being made by the Portuguese authorities .. Macau will affect the immigration and nationality status of those concerned under existing legislation.

Lord Wyatt of Weeford: My Lords, will the noble ord consider this matter again? I understand very

EC Passports

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well why Sir Geoffrey Howe has great confidence in the agreement made with the Chinese Government for what goes on after 1997, but the greatest confidence would be shown if people in Hong Kong were able to have EC passports or their equivalent and vote with their feet if a subsequent Chinese Government did not honour the agreement. It is also the case that very few Hong Kong Chinese would come here because they do not like the climate or our penal taxation system. On the contrary, Britain stands seventh in favourite countries to which to emigrate. It is unlikely that many such passports would ever be used.

Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, I do not think that it will be possible to think again because we are committed to the Joint Declaration and to working for the continued stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. I should have thought that what the noble Lord proposes would work the opposite way to that which he intends.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos: My Lords, is it the case that 100,000 Portuguese citizens of Macau are holding EC passports and the right to settle in this country, whereas holders of British passports resident in Hong Kong have no such right? Is not that a serious anomaly? To what extent have Her Majesty's Government discussed this with other governments in the Community to see whether the anomaly can be corrected?

Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right. That possibility has been apparent for many years, as the noble Lord is aware, and the present British nationality law reflects views expressed by Parliament during the passage of the British Nationality Act 1981 and, indeed, in earlier nationality and immigration Acts. We are seeking to create conditions in which people will want to stay in Hong Kong. They are, of course, free to leave and they are also at liberty to return as, indeed, many do. Concerning contacts with other governments, I can certainly say that there has been no recent contact with the Portuguese Government on this matter.

Lord Mellish: My Lords, is the Minister aware that some of us are scared to death at the thought of over 100,000 people, who have nothing whatever to do with Britain but who nevertheless have such passports, coming to live here? It frightens the life out of me.

Lord Glenarthur: My Lords, as I said, it is important to build where we can on the conditions which will make Hong Kong an attractive place in which people can live, work and plan their lives.

Lord Wyatt of Weeford: My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the Chinese Government made no objection to the issuing of EC passports by the Portuguese? There is considerable evidence that they would raise no objection to this country doing the same for the Hong Kong Chinese. The greatest confidence that could be shown by the Peking Government is that people could go away if that Government did not honour the agreement after 1997. The noble Lord is standing confidence on its