TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 132

15:05

affected by what?

(a)

number of ethnic minorities affected; and

(b) number of ethnic minorities succeeded in the

British Selection Scheme.

Nationality of wives and widows of ex-servicemen

$.

Members noted that the Administration was exploring ways

to assist the wives and widows of the ex-servicemen.

(Dr Simon Vickers and Mr K S CHEUNG left the meeting at this point.)

British Nationality Scheme (the Scheme)

7.

Mr Keith KWOK was invited to give an up-date on the Scheme. Mr KWOK said that a total of 66 000 applications were received against a quota of 43 000 during the application period from 1 December 1990 to 28 February 1991. About 20 000 principal applicants had now been registered and passports had been issued under the Scheme since mid 1991. About 75% of the successful applicants would be interviewed by end 1992. All applicants had already been advised of the position of their applications in June 1992. In sum, the Scheme was running smoothly and it was expected that its first phase could be completed by end 1993 on schedule. He then made the following additional points in response to Members' enquiries:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(e)

applicants who failed in the first phase would have to re-apply in the second phase;

so far 60 requests for re-consideration of their applications had been received from unsuccessful candidates;

various measures had been taken to protect the security of the documents. Identity of the individual applicants would not be disclosed and all applicants were identified by number in the processing of their applications;

only the Manager and Administration Group in private sector and the Police were under subscribed. The reasons of under subscription were unclear. All the unused quota would be carried forward to the second phase to its respective class and redistributed among its occupational groups; and

as the Hong Kong Government did not keep record on movement of people, it did not have information on the number of successful candidates of the Scheme emigrating to United Kingdom. The indication from United Kingdom was that there was no significant increase in the number of people coming from Hong Kong to settle in United Kingdom.