TNAG-2943-FCO40-4219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 88

21-SEP-1993 12:02

84 IND LIVERPOOL

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SECRETARY

HUD 340/6

RECE.

INDE,

23 SEP 1993

* OFFICE

44 051 236 3386

P.05

(143

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE LONDON SWIH 9AT

14 SEP 1993

JistRY

Dear Lady Junn

Thank you for your letter of 27 July about British citizenship for Hong Kong's ethnic minorities.

I have considered very carefully what was said in the debate on this subject in the House of Lords on 15 July and the views of the Executive Council expressed in your letter.

I recognise the strength of feeling on this issue, but I remain of the view that I would not be

not be justified in legislation to give the ethnic minorities British citizenship. in promoting I cannot see that anything of substance has changed since this matter was considered in some depth in the debates on the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990. It was decided then not to make special legislative provision for the ethnic minorities, and I can see no grounds for changing our policy on this issue. announcement to this effect was made on my behalf by Charles Wardle in answer to a Parliamentary Question on 26 July (a copy of which I enclose).

An

I stand by the assurances that have been given to the ethnic minorities but I am afraid that I cannot go beyond that.

I am copying this letter to the Governor and to Alastair Goodlad at the Foreign Office.

The Baroness Dunn

Director

John Swire & Sons (HK) Ltd

Swire House

9 Connaught Road

Hong Kong

Your sincerely

Ливаев Нишл

MICHAEL HOWARD