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We are a group of 350 Hongkong residents comprising teachers, students, architects, accountants, an her professional workers. We present to Your Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland our grievances on two urgent issues.
1. The funding of Britain's Gulf War Effort from Hongkong taxpayer's reserves in the wake of strong opposition from the local community.
2. The application for the Governor's recommendation for registration as a British citizen closing date on February 28th 1991
Funding of Britain's Gulf War Effort
As you are reading this, Your Majesty's Govemment in Hongkong i.e. the David Wilson Administration may already have approved the funding of the British troops in the war against Iraq amidst strong opposition. Voices of dissent are loud and wide. Yet the David Wilson's administration is adamant to enforce the approval of this war fund, misnaming it as Hongkong's "voluntary contribution". Reasons for our objection to the war funding are as follows:
1. Public money is being utilized on an extraordinary item without any legal proof of public approval. It is widely known that opinions on the necessity or otherwise of the continuous and excessive carpet bombing of Iraq cities are divided. There is no explicit approval by Hongkong people for such bombing and the funding of such bombing.
2. It is reported that "the British Government has not sought a contribution from the territory. According to Senior legislator Allen Lee, the suggestion apparently came from the Governor, Sir David Wilson. 34 of the 46 non-civil service legislators held a special closed door in-house meeting to debate the controversial proposal. In a show of hands 14 members opposed while 11 were in favour. The remainder abstained." (Feb.6th the Post & Standard )
The Governor excused himself from the special meeting debating his proposal of the controversial war funding, on account of some abrasion to his face. It is also rumoured that the Governor is fighting hard to keep his position as governor of Hongkong in the remaining years of the transitional period.
3. As suggested by various councillors, it would have been more appropriate if Britain had made a formal request for economic aid. Only then should public debate be conducted towards the size and nature of such economic aid towards the victims of Gulf war bombing.
4. As a civilized community Hongkong should and would be prepared to contribute on a voluntary basis towards humanitarian aid for victims of the Gulf war.
5. As a civilized community Hongkong should not and would not be prepared to contribute any money towards the massacre of our fellow human beings.
6. Any donation and/or contribution should be made on a voluntary basis. "Contribution" initiated by David Wilson's administration, in the name of the Hongkong Government is in effect forcing every Hongkong taxpayer to give money to Britain for a warring cause with possible devastating political and economic implications.
Once more may we reiterate that Governor Wilson, being Your Majesty's appointee for the administration of Hongkong according to the Royal Instructions, has no constitutional power to manipulate Hongkong taxpayer's money for Britain's war funds without legal proof of popular support.
Application for the Governor's recommendation for registration as a British citizen.
In accordance with the 1990 British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act, Hongkong British nationals, holding various British passports, have been urged to fill in Form BN (HK) 1, in procedure for "application for the Governor's recommendation for registration as a British citizen".
My T
MKD
Mr Mortin
W 18
As British nationals holding British passports we hereby lodge our strong protest against this procedure for 2 reasons.
1. We are of the strong conviction that it is unconstitutional and immoral to vest the power of "recommendation" with Her Majesty's appointee, Governor Wilson. As British nationals in allegiance with Your Majesty, our British citizenship and constitutional position is as British as Sir David Wilson's. Any "authority" for Governor Wilson to affect our registration as British citizens would thus have to been seen as unconstitutional.
Hongkong British nationals who are not dual nationals have already made their stand in no vague terms regarding their British citizenship rights. Any "application for the Governor's recommendation for registration as a British citizen" would be deemed unconstitutional and immoral.
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2. We object to the discriminatory flavour of this Governor's "selection scheme". The enclosed 32 page application "form" is self explanatory with regard to
selection of class and occupational group e.g. general occupation, entrepreneur,
disciplined service, sensitive service
proficiency in English language
education and training
professional and vocational qualifications
income
tax paid
investment
turnover of business in Hongkong
number of employees
shareholding in business
connections with the United Kingdom
public or community service
special merits'
residence in Hongkong
absence from Hongkong
The enclosed Form A for UK passport application is in marked contrast to this Form BN (HK) 1 This long list of criteria is conspicuous by its absence in FormA. Form A is the regular UK passport application form for British citizens, British Oversea citizens, and British Dependent Territory Citizens.
By requesting Hongkong people to apply for "Governor's recommendation for registration as a British citizen" Britain would be seen to subject her nationals to the Governor's discriminatory recommendation I.e. blatant discrimination on a territorial and racial basis. Proofs of racism and discrimination was full and abundant in the House of Commons during the fateful debate of the 1990 British Nationality (Hong Kong ́) Bill on April 19th 1990.
If the principle of equality of citizenship rights for British nationals is to be upheld, any Governor's recommendation based on this list of criteria must be denounced.
Under British jurisdiction, all British passport holders hold full and equal citizenship rights. The *recommendation" by one British national (David Wilson) to insert or not insert (thus tantamount to depriving) the status of "British citizen" in the passport of another British national (the applicant) must be deemed immoral and unconstitutional.
We put it to Your Majesty to effect the necessary rectification of the above mentioned misdeeds. This 7th day of February 1991
A group of 350 Hongkong British Nationals c/o 1B 438 Nathan Road Kowloon Hongkong
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