TNAG-2633-FCO40-3824-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-Nationality-(Hong-K-1992 — Page 12

02 DEC 192 14:16 B4 LINO 051 255 1160

P.2/3

Thank you for your letter of 7 November with which you enclosed

this one from Mr Ian Harris of the Bonas Machine Company Limited.

x1

I appreciate the company's concerns over the question of British

citizenship for two of its technicians who live in Hong Kong and

I regret the difficulties with which it. is faced. T fear;

however that there is little the Home Office can do to help.

There is, as Mr Harris will know, a limit on the number of

British citizenship places available under the Selection Scheme

and in some of the occupational groups, like the engineering

associate professionals group under which the

technicians

applied, the competition for places is intense. Mr Harris wrote

directly to the Prime Minister on this issue and, as the Prime

Minister explained, there is simply no provision in the British

Nationality Hong Kong legislation for discretion to be exercised

on any individual application within the General Occupational

Class of which the engineering group forms part.

The Governor makes his recommendations for citizenship on the

basis of а rigorous and objective points system

the system and

procedures followed are scrupulously fair. Only the Governor can

put forward recommendations. The Home Secretary has no role

other than to receive, check and sanction the recommendations.

He cannot direct and does not seek to influence the Governor on

who to recommend.

I should point out that there will be a further opportunity for

the technicians to apply under the second phase of the scheme