I UNDERSTAND that the ethnic minority of Hong Kong (referring largely to Indians and Pakistani citizens) is asking for the right of abode in the UK and to be granted British nationality, based on the grounds that these people will be rendered ''stateless''after June 30, 1997.
I do not agree with this. If the members of this minority are citizens of Hong Kong, they should be treated in the same way as all citizens.
All Hong Kong citizens should be treated fairly, regardless of their race.
They claim they should be treated as a special case, because they have made such an important contribution to Hong Kong.
But what contribution have they made compared with that made by others in Hong Kong, who are Chinese or from other ethnic groups? We have to look at their claims as objectively as possible.
The British Citizenship Scheme is open to all, so why do we need another scheme that covers so few people and has such vague standards? It is far more acceptable than the scheme being proposed.