TNAG-2940-FCO40-4216-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 75

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HICD 340/6

1770

44

J9 APR 1993

FROM: Deborah Barnes Jones

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 19 April 1993

cc: Mr Sullivan, NTCD

Mr Morris

Mr Hum

PS/Mr Goodfat

HONG KONG NATIONALITY ISSUE: STATUS OF THE ETHNIC MINORITY

Problem

1. How to respond to the latest representations from Legco

for full British citizenship for the ethnic minority (ie non Chinese) community.

Recommendation

2.

I

The Home Office have told us informally that their

position remains unchanged and that they do not see a case for

fresh legislation to give British citizenship to this

community. I recommend that Mr Goodlad should in the first

instance write to Mr Wardle at the Home Office seeking a

formal Home Office response to these representations.

submit a draft. I further recommend that, once the Home

Office responds, Mr Goodlad should convey Mr Wardle's response

to Hong Kong in the form of a letter to the Chief Secretary.

Home Office officials agree.

nat.ethnic.obj

Background

3.

-

Legco members have aired from time to time the issue of

full British citizenship for those members of the ethnic

minority who have solely British nationality the numbers

involved are estimated to be around 7,000 (and are mostly of

Indian descent). The focus has sharpened following two

debates in Legco on this subject. The first was last November

and resulted in the formation of a sub-committee under the

chairmanship of Emily Lau. The most recent debate on 10 March

was on the basis of a (hard-hitting) Report from the

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Sub-Committee.