TNAG-2974-FCO40-1243-Protection-of-UK-citizens-of-Dependent-Territories-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 5

Miss Brett Rooks

Reference..HKG..231./1.......................

нка 23111

2 4 MAR 1981

DESK STAICER

PROTECTION OF UK CITIZENS OF DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

1 @20/2

1. I have, as requested, looked into the problem of protection of UK citizens and consulted the Hong Kong Government Office and the Cayman Islands Tourist Office to get their views as to the kind of assistance they can offer. This is set out in the attached note.

5

2. I have also discussed this question at some length with Mr Petch, DHSS. The amount of assistance DHSS can provide depends largely on any restrictions which may have been imposed by the UK immigration officials. There is no discrimination as far as supplementary benefit is concerned and the following examples are quoted:

a) If a citizen of Hong Kong is given permission for permanent

settlement there are no restrictions. He/she can claim the same benefits as anyone else.

b)

c)

3.

If a Dependent Territory national comes to the UK to study then the immigration official must be satisfied that the costs of the course will be met and that the student will be able to maintain himself. If the student has to claim for assistance if would be pointed out to him that he had been admitted on the grounds that he could support himself. However, the DHSS would pay him supplementary benefit for about two weeks which allows the student to make alternative arrangements e.g. either he arranges for funds to be sent to him or he has to return home.

The position of visitors to the UK is similar to that of the student in as much as they are also admitted on the basis that they can support themselves during their stay. When I asked what would happen if a visitor lost his money or was robbed Mr Petch admitted that the supplementary benefit regulations did not take account of that. However, if this should happen then the visitor could also receive approximately two weeks assistance and the opportunity to make other arrangements.

The rules governing supplementary benefits are already published in a booklet so there could be no objection to this information being made public.

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