TNAG-2639-FCO40-3831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-nationality-dependants-1992 — Page 12

September 1992

Dr CH Leong

Dr the Hon Leong Chi-hung Room 1101

Central Building Peddar Street Central

I know that you have taken a particular interest in the case of a group of children who by virtue of their date of birth have not been eligible for registration as British citizens under the British Nationality Act (1981). We discussed this

when I visited Hong Kong in May, and the subject was also

raised with Douglas Hurd when he visited Hong Kong in July.

We have taken this case up again with the Home Office. The

Home Secretary has concluded that it will still be necessary

for each case to be considered individually. Subject to that,

the Home Secretary has agreed that he will grant those

applications where there is a British citizen parent and a

British citizen brother or sister; where the applicant has

some residential connection with the UK such as studying here

or where the applicant has been adopted in Hong Kong by British citizen parents. In all other cases, he will look sympathetically at the families' circumstances, taking into

account such factors as the age of the parents; their

occupation; their connection with the UK, such as periods of residence; cultural or professional links including periods

in the UK, of study spent here ownership of investments or property

children.future.bern