TNAG-2943-FCO40-4219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-ethnic-minorities-1993 — Page 90

21-SEP-15

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Mr WRBONS Mrs. bellas Mr Kelley

14 SEP 1993

340/6

2 2 SEP 1993

PA

GISTRY

Actron Tak

Thank you for your letter of 15 June about two Hong Kong nationality issues and also for your kind congratulations on my appointment. to have replied sooner,

I am very sorry not but I wanted to give these issues careful consideration particularly following the debate on the ethnic minorities in the House of Lords on 15 July. I have been in touch with Chris Patten about both issues -the position of the ethnic minorities and the wives and widows of ex-servicemen.

As you know, the delegation from the Hong Kong Legislative Council also raised these two issues with me. They believe that both groups should be given British citizenship but I am afraid that, as you recognise, this would present great difficulties in both cases.

Needless to say, I have every sympathy with the wives and widows. given them a cast iron assurance that they may come here for settlement at any We have time they wish. The problem is that they do not wish to leave Hong Kong, but would like to have British citizenship and the passport which goes with it. They do not qualify for citizenship under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 since their age, experience, education and so on do not give them sufficient points to compete successfully. British Nationality Act 1981 without meeting the statutory residence criteria, They cannot qualify under the which I have no discretion to waive. To meet their wishes would therefore require new legislation, which is frankly not in prospect. readily repeat the assurance in the strongest possible terms about their I can, however, freedom to come here for settlement at any time.

You will no doubt recall the arguments that have been deployed over the years on behalf of the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. fully in the context of the debates on both the British Nationality (Hong They were examined very Kong) Order 1986 and the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990. looked at the matter afresh, in the light particularly of what was said in the Having House of Lords, I can see no grounds for a change in the Government's policy. In my view no new considerations have been advanced since the debates in the 1990 Act to justify the introduction of legislation on the matter. have seen that Charles Wardle made an announcement to this effect in the House You may of Commons on 26 July. I enclose a copy of the relevant Question and Answer.

142

The Rt Hon The Baroness Thatcher, OM, FRS

House of Lords

LONDON SW1A OPW

/cont

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