TNAG-2198-FCO40-3152-Hong-Kong-nationality-spouses-and-widows-of-British-expatria-1990 — Page 218

The Concerned British Expatriates' Society

1989-11-8

117 NOV 1989

The Honourable Francis Maude MP

House of Commons

London

United Kingdom

Dear Sir,

3, Section J, 5th Street,

Fairview Park Estate

Yuen Long

New Territories

Hồng Kông

Mr Paul, HICD

Grateht for advice &

27/11.

draft

V. Ewan 1714

reply by DX PS/ Mr Maude

The Concerned British Expatriate Society represents a group of British citizens living in Hong Kong who are married to non-British spouses. We would like to make this submission to you for your formal consideration in connection with the so-called "nationality package" for Hong Kong.

Current legislation requires a non-British spouse to reside in the UK for a period of 3 years in order to qualify for citizenship. What we ask however is that in the case of British citizens resident in Hong Kong that residence here be considered as satisfying the residency requirement. We make the following points in support of our request for this dispensation as part of the "nationality package".

1.

2.

3.

The problems currently facing Hong Kong are unique, requiring an imaginative response to what is clearly a special case.

The majority of Hong Kong based non-British spouses will go to the UK at some stage and obtain citizenship. Hence our request in the main part does not relate to a category of people who would otherwise not qualify. Rather, we ask that those who would eventually qualify are not required to return physically to the UK to do so at this sensitive time when we are concerned about our families.

We believe that the number of British citizens settled in Hong Kong married to non-British spouses is very small, perhaps in the order of some hundreds. In the context of the problems being addressed by the "package", and taking into account the issue referred to in point 2 above, this number could be considered negligible. Nevertheless, many are in senior positions in commerce and the professions and their departure from HK will have an impact disproportionate to the numbers involved.

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