Campaign for the Right of Abode for
Former British-Hong Kong Servicemen
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT GROUP
Monday 21* January 2019
The Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid M.P.
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
LONDON
SWIP 4DF
Wee S54,
May | express my sincere thanks to you for taking such a close personal interest in the
Concerns of former British-Hong Kong Servicemen. Everyone was sorry that you were unable
to meet with them when they visited Parliament last November, but look forward to
meeting you soon in the hope of finally making progress in solving this long running issue
‘As mentioned when we spoke personally, many of the ex-servicemen have travelled
annually, for the past six years, at their own expense to meet with Government Ministers,
and Parliamentarians to politely request the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom. Prior to
handover to China in 1997, our government gave 159 British-Hong Kong Servicemen a new
full UK passport for Crown Service. These servicemen who were ‘Left behind’ are seeking
equal treatment and | believe they have a just cause.
Much correspondence has been exchanged between colleagues from both the House of
Commons and House of Lords, Ministers and members of the campaign, which | have the
honour of leading in Parliament, but sadly no material progress has been made thus far.
Hitherto, all Ministers we have met have not taken the steps to correct this historic wrong;
basing their refusal on the Chinese citizenship of the former British Hong Kong servicemen
and their families, a citizenship they did not choose to adopt, or arguing that the former
servicemen were merely “locally recruited staff”, who “..would not have had an expectation
of automatic right to a British passport” (enc. Letter from The Rt. Hon. Lord Bates), despite
having made this life-long Oath of Allegiance, having received the Regular Army Certificates
of Service, and committing themselves to the objectives of the Military Covenant.
All soldiers and sailors who commit themselves to the necessity of making the ultimate
Sacrifice for Queen and Country must surely be treated equally by virtue of the Military
Covenant?
‘Campaton for the Right of Abode fot Foret Bildh-Hong Kong Serviesmen
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT GROUP.
Room 927] Perieulls House | Houses of Petisment | London | SWiA OAR,
‘mall andrew.resindell mp@parlioment.ck | Telephone: 020.7219 8499Campaign for the Right of Abode for
Former British-Hong Kong Servicemen
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT GROUP
'n addition to their goodwill and regular annual delegation to the Houses of Parliament, they
have secured the support of over 150 MPs in their EDM 88/722/92/537 between sessions
2013-18, which is also enclosed for your information.
Such is the growing sense of feeling about that, | am joined in writing this letter by a number
Of senior Parliamentarians who, like me, believe the failure to honour our moral duty to
these men and their familie is a historic wrong of over twenty years which must be righted.
The service of these men as Regular Soldiers and Sailors must be respected and the mutual
objectives of the Military Covenant must be fulfilled. This is a matter of growing urgency
given the recent, evident breaches of the “One Country, Two Systems” commitments made
by Deng Xiaoping before the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.
We urge the British Government to act with honour and recognise that these men put
themselves in harm’s way for us, and as a result of which they face an increasing risk of
being targeted and penalised by the PRC authorities. They have told me this, We are duty
bound not to leave them to face this real risk of danger.
| look forward to the meeting on Thursday 31st January 2019 and hope to count on your
support in this most urgent matter.
look forward to hearing from you.
Wiens Meshe
Andrew Rosindell M.P. The Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle M.P.
Chairman, Hong Kong Former Servicemen. Deputy Speaker
Parliamentary Support Grou House of Commons
Carpal for the Right of Abed for Former British-Hong Kong Servicemen
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT GROUP
7 | Portus Hours | Houses of Perlament | London | SWIA OAA,
e-molk cnerew.rosindelmp@perliamentiuk | Telephone: 020 7219 8499Campaign for the Right of Abode for
Former British-Hong Kong Servicemen
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT GROUP
‘The Rt. Hon. Dr. Julian Lewis M.P.
Chairman of the Defence Select Committee
Nigel Dodds .P.
Leader of DUP in Parliament
‘Tom Tugendhat MBE M.P.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select
Committee
Lord shinkwin
‘Stewart McDonald MP.
SNP Spokesman for Defence
Lord Willougby de Broke
Admiral The Rt. Hon. The Lord West of
Spithead G.S.B. D.S.c.
Lord Wei
Lord Luce
Lord Judd
Mary Glindon M.P,
Richard Graham M.P.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Mai
Vickers M.P.
Lord Pendry
Lord Rowe-Beddoe
Jeremy Lefroy M.P.
Nigel Evans M.P.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom
Lord Stoddart of Swindon
Lord Selkirk of Douglas
Lord Davies of stamford
Lord Kilclooney
Campaign for he Right of Aboud For Forme Bits
Paul Sweeney M.P,
The Rt. Hon. Lord Alton of Liverpool
KS.C.G.K.CM.O,
The Rt. Hon. Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
Col. Bob Stewart 0.5.0. M.P.
Carol Monaghan M.P.
Lord Truscott
Stuart McDonald M.P.
The Rt. Hon Keith Vaz M.P.
Lord Geddes
Andrea Jenkyns M.P.
Lord Norman Tebbit C.H., P.C.
Ruth Smeeth M.P.
Jim Shannon M.P.
Lord Craig of Radley GCB OBE
Christine Jardine M.P,
Ben Lake MP,
George Howarth M.P.
Bob Blackman M.P.
Sammy Wilson M.P.
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
Lord Marlesford
Lord Stevens of Ludgate
Baroness Uddin
David Drew M.P.
Baroness Falkner of Margravine
Catherine West M.P.
fong Kong Servicemien
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT GROUP
Reom 327| Porleulls Heute | Huse of Patament | London | SW1A OAA,
‘inal andrew.rosindell mp@perliamentuk | Telephone: 020.7219 8499
Equal Access To Justice For Persons Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Guide For Persons With Disabilities, Legal Practitioners, and Parties Involved in The Judicial Process