TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 127

A.

the

Members of

Subcommittee have noted that when 'The White Paper on the Draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) order 1986 was debated in the Council on 8 January 1986, the whole Council, including its Official Members, supported the request 'to make full British citizens those British nationals who are of non-Chinese descent'. However, no satisfactory progress has been made 30 far.

The Subcommittee has also learnt from its recent meeting with the Administration that the Hong Kong Government holds the view that the grant of British citizenship બેંક સ matter for Her Majesty's Government and that it has not made any recommendations when it conveyed to the British Government Members' views expressed at the recent debate on 'Nationality

Ethnic Minorities'. The Subcommittee considers important that Members should have a clear consensus on the issue if both the Hong Kong and British Governments are to be pressed for a satisfactory solution to the problem.

it

7.

of

When MI LU Ping, the Director of the State Council's Heng Kong and Macau Affairs Office, met the visiting group of members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in January 1993, he gave an assurance that the ethnic minorities could apply for Chinese citizenship after 1997. However, the Subcommittee has been advised by representatives of the Indian community that this does not provide the level of certainty required. They request full British nationality and the

continue

to

Subcommittee supports their request.

Recommendations

8.

Members are invited to:

(a) note

the

Subcommittee's

paragraphs 5 to 7;

deliberations

in

(b)

endorse the Subcommittee's support for the grant of full British nationality to non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong;

(c)

adopt this report as a report of the House Committee for the purpose of laying it on the Table of the Legislative Council; and

(a)

consider, subject to agreement to (c) above, moving a motion (draft motion at Annex) in the Council in support of the report.

The OMELCO Secretariat

17.2.1993