TNAG-2944-FCO40-4220-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-dependants-wives-and-widow-1993 — Page 110

BY FAX

8 June 1993

Mrs Elsie Tu

Chairman

Legislative Council House Committee

Legislative Council Building

8 Jackson Road Central

Hong Kong

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

London SWIA 2AH

From The Minister of State

HILD 34018

RF

10 JUL 1993

IN

Dear Elsie.

I

I would like to thank LegCo, through you, for the excellent meeting organised for me on I June, during my recent visit. find the opportunity to be apprised of LegCo Members' concerns in formal session absolutely invaluable. It is equally important to me to be able to maintain less formal contact, so I was particularly grateful for Members' kind hospitality, and the chance to talk further over that splendid dinner.

But the chief reason for this letter is that I undertook at that meeting to update LegCo on the latest position regarding applications for British citizenship from children born before 1 January 1983 to people who became UK citizens under the British Nationality Act 1981, (the so-called "split families").

I am happy to be able to tell you that there has been good progress on processing applications for British citizenship for these individuals since last July when the Home Secretary agreed to consider applications for this category "generously and speedily". (Please see my letter of 7 September 1992 to

The Home Dr Leong, copy enclosed for ease of reference). Office have now received 211 applications (from 143 families) None has so far and have approved 184 of these applications. been refused.

تقلیلان

ALASTAIR GOODLAD

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