TNAG-2942-FCO40-4218-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 19

18-AUG-1993

09:52

B4 IND LIVERPOOL

44 051 236 3386

P.02

MINISTER OF STATE

CC

Mr Toon

Mr Barnes

Mr Langdon

Mr Rawsthorne

Mr Walmsley

Mr Kelly

Mr Hebblewhite

Mr Giles

Mr Cameron

i

Mr Rock

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

LONDON SWIH 9AT

Dear Dacid,

MUD 340/6

RECEPT

19 AUG 1993

DESK OFFICE INDEX

Take

16

it August 1993

Thank you for your letter of 19 July about British citizenship for the Honk Kong ethnic minorities, clarifying the point which you made about these people when you spoke in the debate on the British Nationality (Hong Kong) (Selection Scheme) (Amendment) Order 1993.

It was a formidable undertaking to face such an array of experience and, if I might say so, I found your contribution both understanding and penetrating. I agree that it would be a pity to distort the intricate and detailed arrangements which have been made for implementing the Selection Scheme, particularly at this late stage. I am sure that that would be

a mistake.

Your desire, though, for special arrangements to be made to give British citizenship to the ethnic minorities on top of the 50,000 places provided for in the Scheme would, of course, require fresh legislation.

I was made only too well aware of the strength of feeling about all this during the debate, and the Home Secretary, Charles Wardle and I have carefully considered all the views which were expressed there and elsewhere.

I am afraid, though, that the Home Secretary has concluded that no considerations have been advanced which would lead us to take a different view of the matter from that which was taken when the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act was first introduced, which was not to make special legislative provision to confer British citizenship on members of the ethnic minorities.

The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn GCMG

35 Danvers Street

London

SW3 5AT

\The Government has,

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