TNAG-2942-FCO40-4218-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 52

37-JUL-1993

14:33

HK GOVERNMENT HOUSE

852 521 1868

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26-JUL-1993 17:16

CHIEF SECRETARY HONG KONG

+ 852 810 6734

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repeat that if, against all expectations, members of the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong were to come under pressure to leave Hong Kong and had nowhere else to go, the Government of the day would be expected to consider, with considerable and particular sympathy, their case for admission to the United Kingdom.

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9.

However, Members will no doubt know that the House of Lords was not in fact satisfied by these assurances provided by Ministers and voted in favour of a motion calling upon Her Majesty's Government to give "full nationality to members of the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong". I should like to pay tribute to the powerful speech made by the Senior Member of the Executive Council during that debate, which doubtless had an important effect.

10. I am also able to tell Honourable Members that in response to the widespread concern in the community, the Executive Council yesterday discussed the question of the ethnic minorities. Following that discussion, the

non-Government members of the Executive Council have decided to write to the Home Secretary, urging him to look at the issue once more. The Governor has also once again pressed the case that has been previously put by the Hong Kong Government, the Executive Council and the Legislative Council. He has written again to Ministers saying that he hopes Hong Kong's views will be fully taken into account.

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