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MSRAE
i Langdon
Mr. Manisthoms
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1800 hours Monday 6 April, 1992.
M
Stacement by the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Kenneth Baker,
my Granthan
Jeltray
Ar Rikety
HID
EPS
Sir James Dr Buns
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many
"On the radio this morning, Mr Paddy Ashdown made an astonishing
commitment about the number of Hong Kong citizens whom he would allow_co enter and live in the UX.
He said "I believe that the Country could absorb a significant influx oĐÌ people from Hong Kong",
The British Nationality Act of 1981 gave to most of the citizens of Hong Kong British Dependent Turritory Citizens passports. These do not carry
a right of abode in the UK.
MT Ashdown now says that "we should honour the rights of passport holders in Hong Kong" meaning that they should all be eligible to come here. If Hong Kong citizens had this right then few would doubt that
wt of them would cxcrcise it.
Mr Ashdown himself states that the numbers involved could be 41 million X
people.
Such a commitment would be unthinkable. It is sheer folly to think that we could absorb this sort of number. Just let me remind him of what Is happening on the Continent when che number coming in as refugees ard much lower and even that number is creating racial tensions with grave political coneequences.
Mr Ashdown's statement this morning shows a reckless disregard for the realities of immigration control which are crucial in helping to preserve harmonious race relations in Britain.»
ENDS.
Mr Maris!
ce Mr Crystal,
Mr Woodrow
we spoke about 'x'.
8/4
It is a pity that fur Bakker did not consule his officials dout the agreed press line on this.
It will play badly in Hay King.
+ fa. BINHKA
M7/4
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