TNAG-2198-FCO40-3152-Hong-Kong-nationality-spouses-and-widows-of-British-expatria-1990 — Page 52

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Ps/or wallegrowne

ii RS/SA--Chats

Min

Паловек, нка

FROM:

R M Marsden

Thank

You

Ia Rus

DATE:

Hong Kong Department

13 August 1990

Aps / Lord Caithnen

CC:

niv

PS/Lord Caithness

Mr Burns

TMCD 340/8 Асо

RECEIVED SCISTRY

De

INDEX

2 OAUG 1990

VICEM

MP'S LETTER: HONG KONG NATIONALITY: WAR WIDOWS

PA

Problem

A 1.

A letter from Mr Anthony Nelson MP, enclosing a constituent's letter about an article in the Spectator of

B 7 July (The Widows' Mite") which criticised the Government

for its treatment of widows of ex-servicemen.

Recommendation

C

D

2. I recommend that Lord Caithness should reply on the

lines of the attached draft. The Home Office agree.

Background

3. We have a good story to tell on this issue. The

Secretary of State, then Home Secretary, gave an assurance in May 1986 that any ex-servicemen who were BDTCS could register as British citizens under SecTION $ (5) of the British Nationality Act 1981, and that those who were Chinese citizens would have their applications for settlement in the UK approved (under his discretionary powers). Mr Waddington announced on 19 April, during the Second Reading of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill, that any widow of an ex-serviceman would be allowed to

settle in the UK at any time.

BIFADX/1

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