WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX SERVICEMEN
Existing undertaking
Annex C
1.
During the Second Reading of the British Nationality (Hong
Kong) Act 1990 the Home Secretary gave an immigration assurance
that the spouses of any British citizens who had died and who had
been resident in Hong Kong would be allowed to come to the United
Kingdom providing they were still resident in Hong Kong, did not
have the citizenship of another country (a condition which was
later dropped) and had not remarried. (They could apply for
British citizenship in the normal way ie. after fulfilling the
usual residence requirements.)
It was made clear that this same
assurance also extended to the wives and widows of former
servicemen who served in the defence of Hong Kong during the
Second World War under the Government of Hong Kong, irrespective
of the husband's nationality. Pressure is now being renewed for
the ex-servicemen's spouses and widows to be granted British
citizenship without having to fulfil the residence requirements.
It is understood that there are only a few dozen of them and in
view of local sympathy for their cause the Hong Kong Government
has indicated to Mr McGregor that it would ask HMG to look again
at the case for exemption. The FCO have subsequently approached
us at official level to consider the HKG's suggestions (all of
which appear to be non-starters).
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.