TNAG-2091-FCO40-2977-Royal-Hong-Kong-Police-Force-1990 — Page 48

TOBAAD

PS/Mr Maude

RECE

DES:

INDLE

HkB 43111

- 9 APR 1990

I submit a draft reply

Mill Stae.

M V Stone, HKD

CC: Mr Paul (with copy)

2 April 1990

David Scott Esq

Chairman

Expatriate Inspectors' Association Royal Hong Kong Police Headquarters Arsenal Street

Hong Kong

FILE.

38

х

Thank you for your letter of 12 March about matters of concern to members of your Association, which you also raised in your letters of 12 and 19 January.

First, nationality and the question of right of abode in the United Kingdom for the spouses of members of your Association. All those members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force who are British citizens, and who were recruited in the United Kingdom, are covered by the British Citizenship (Designated Service) Order 1982. This means that the Home Secretary may waive the normal residential requirement for the naturalisation of the non British spouses of such people.

If, despite being in a specially designated service, any of your members are experiencing difficulties over the naturalisation of their non British spouses I would be grateful if you could provide me with details and I will have the cases looked into.

Secondly, membership of HMOCS. I note what you say about the unwillingness of the majority of expatriate police officers in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force to serve after the transfer of sovereignty in 1997. I can well understand that their position might well be untenable in the event of complete breakdown of the arrangements envisaged under the Joint Declaration. But that is a mere most improbable scenario and we shall continue to work to ensure that it does not happen.