TNAG-2639-FCO40-3831-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-nationality-dependants-1992 — Page 99

Block F, 8th Floor Robinson Garden Apartments ||

3-3G Robinson Road Hong Kong

6

17/1 © HK) 340/6

Tel: 5210859 Fax: 5211978

January 8, 1992

Set 15/1

Rt Hon Earl Ferrers

Carol hewas

BR.

Minister of State at the Home Office

Home Office

Queen Anne's Gate

London SW1H 9AT

Dear Earl Ferrers

555

RECEIVED BY

15 JAN 1992 PRIVATE SECRETARY

We met recently in Hong Kong when you attended a cocktail party hosted by the Conservatives Abroad group. In response to a question of mine concerning the issue of UK nationality for the non-British spouses of British citizens living in Hong Kong you very kindly agreed to look into the matter I raised.

I am the Chairman of a group of British citizens living in Hong Kong whose spouses do not hold UK nationality, since whilst we remain here we are of course unable to satisfy the three year residential requirement in the UK. We had lobbied the Government to permit this qualification period to take place in Hong Kong, so that we would not have to leave. Despite considerable cross party support, even from those who were otherwise totally opposed to the Hong Kong immigration bill, the amendment tabled to address our concerns did not succeed although certain concessions have been granted to us.

Whilst the concessions granted did not go as far as we had hoped, some action was taken. One we were nonetheless thankful that residual issue which concerned us was that although in theory it is necessary for our spouses to reside in the UK for three years before being entitled to apply for citizenship, in practice the processing of such applications was in excess of two years making the total period at least five years. We could not comprehend how it took over two years to process such applications and I took this up with Lord Caithness when I met him in Hong Kong in 1990.

the delay in Lord Caithness responded by explaining that

due predominantly

to

in one-time a

surge processing was applications back in 1987 which had created a backlog.

Since more than a year has passed since Lord Caithness' response on this point I wrote to him recently (Nov 11, 1991) to enquire whether this backlog was now reduced. I also asked him to confirm whether UK passports were now being issued to the non-British spouses of British members of the Hong Kong police force (ie without those spouses having to serve the three year residency requirement). I have heard from the police here that this is happening and I wanted confirmation. I was also interested to know the basis on which such passports were being issued.