TNAG-2188-FCO40-3125-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 106

AC

NATIONALITY PACKAGE

CONFIDENTIAL

ECO 014/4 (A)

Reference

33

CC:

Alan Paul Esq, HKD, FCO

HICD 340/4

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

10 APR 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

1. You commented in your telno 521 of 18 December to FCO that you thought that it was only among the more recently married that Ang Kong wives of British Citizens would have found it difficult to obtain full British citizenship while remaining resident in Hong Kong. From conversations I have had with people over the last 12 months my understanding is that the problem is not restricted in the way you suggest. There are a number of long term marriages where the wife is without citizenship. I could not however guess at a figure. The difficulty arises in both cases from the fact that the husbands work and career keeps him in Hong Kong (and/or the region) and the wife cannot earn citizenship without a lengthy separation. In normal circumstances a husband would be able to take his wife to the UK without difficulty if he were to leave Hong Kong. Quite often the fear among those I have talked to is that, with anything less than a full UK passport, the wife might be prevented from leaving Hong Kong post 1997 either with him or indeed as a widow with the children of the marriage. It would be invidious to suggest that the husband should break his career to solve this particular problem.

18 January 1990

CCH/mcs

astic

was a

My comments on

1

CC Hayward

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understood, 15 The 1981 Natinehty Act which tooks effect in 1983. Before then foreign wwiies of full bisirz citizens living abroad could qualify for Philsh cityushing on manage refordless of residence. Most did because

CONFIDENTIAL