TNAG-2201-FCO40-3156-Hong-Kong-nationality-1990 — Page 57

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4. During my familiarisation visit last month to

St Helena, the island's elected Legislative Council

argued forcefully that, in view of the proposal to grant

British citizenship to certain Hong Kong British Overseas

Territories Citizens, HMG should grant full British

citizenship, and the accompanying Right of Abode in the

UK, to all St Helenians. In support of their case, they

asked me on my return to submit to the Secretary of State

a petition in support of this request. The petition does

not ask for UK citizenship but restricts itself to a

right (presumably unrestricted) of entry to the UK. But

such freedom of entry is enjoyed only by those holding

British citizenship.

5. There is no question that the Councillors were

speaking for all their constituents. It is not an exageration to say that every St Helenian with whom I

held a substantive discussion during my 10 day visit

argued along identical lines.

6. I explained to the Legislative Council our position

on the usual lines and said that Ministers alone could

decide such issues. I said that while it would be wrong

for me to forecast such a decision, I felt bound to say

that, under the present circumstances, there was по

Likelihood of the request being granted. I added,

however, that officials recognised the strength of the St

Helenian case, and that the chances of the Legislative

Council arguing their cause successfully would be

significantly greater following the return of Hong Kong

to China in 1997.

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