CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 469
OF 141751Z MAY 93
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 345/6
17.....1993
RJSCA
060216 MDHOAN 2910
друго
7/5
YRTELNO 740: PHASED PROGRAMME FOR BNOS: ETHNIC MINORITIES: WIVES AND WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN
Thank you for this report. To deal with the headings in your para 1 seriatim:
1.
(A) We look forward to your further views on Wives and Widows in due course.
(B) As our Telno 427 said, provided the delay would not be seen as a slight to LegCo, Ministers are content to follow your advice that a formal response should not issue until after the visit by the Sub-Committee delegation. (On the visit itself, you wilL
wish to note that Home Office officials have submitted a recommendation that the delegation should be seen by the Home Secretary).
(C) It is reassuring to know that Members agree a phased programme is necessary. (We are telegraphing separately to you about a letter which Elsie Tu has sent to Mr Goodlad). We are grateful to you for explaining the need for legally imposed cut-off dates. The idea of an "Appeal Panel" is interesting and we look forward to your views on how it might operate. Meanwhile you might like to have the following initial thoughts discussed, so far at official level only, with the Home Office.
2.
We understand that Members wish to be reassured that the Director of Immigration will act fairly, reasonably and impartially when considering whether an individual case constitutes "special circumstances" (which would justify a late application). Leaving aside the argument that his personal integrity, and that of his office, would guarantee this conduct anyway, we can see that an Appeal Panel could provide a means for Members to satisfy themselves that the policy was being administered sympathetically. An advisory body would usefully give advice to the Governor which he could take into account in exercising his discretion in cases rejected by the Immigration
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