TNAG-2198-FCO40-3152-Hong-Kong-nationality-spouses-and-widows-of-British-expatria-1990 — Page 42

Tel: 450 8704

Sir Nicholas Bonsor, M. P.,

House of Commons,

London SW1A OAA,

United Kingdom.

Dear Sir Nicholas,

D2 Fiona Garden,

17 Miles, Castle Peak Road, New Territories,

Hong Kong.

4th July 1990

Thank you for supporting the amendments to the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill designed to help British expatriates in

circumstances similar to my own. Naturally, I am disappointed that the motion failed, but was nevertheless pleased to see that nearly one hundred MPs understand and respect our concerns for the future of our families.

Although I feel betrayed by the Government on this issue, there is one small crumb of comfort in that the Government has agreed that widows of British expatriates living in Hong Kong may apply for settlement in the UK. As this would seem to give some degree of protection to my wife, who is a local Chinese, this goes some way

But it towards allowing me to pursue my career with peace of mind. will be galling during the coming months to see the wives of many of my Chinese colleagues, friends and subordinates, none of whom have any connection with the United Kingdom, getting British citizenship while my wife will not even qualify for a settlement visa unless I die or return to the UK. Even then it will not be her right to settle: this will depend entirely upon the uncertain discretion of the Home Secretary of the day and, presumably, upon the existing draconian application procedures for settlement visas.

The Government's proposed concession gives no protection to the spouses of fellow expatriates who are married to Thais, Philipinos, Koreans etc. It gives these expatriates no confidence whatsoever to stay in Hong Kong.

Despite the confident public statements being made by some people, I know nobody here who, in private conversation, trusts the Chinese government. The noises coming from mainland China are causing my Chinese colleagues to emigrate in such numbers that I have fears for the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong before the communists take over in 1997. In my own field of electricity supply, I personally believe that this loss of talent will force the power companies to start recruiting again in the UK, and I assume that other employers here must be facing similar problems. Therefore, the more that can be done to reassure expatriates the better it will be for Hong Kong.