§ 10.29pm
§ Mr. Douglas French (Gloucester)I wish to present a petition on behalf of my constituents Eddie and Pauline Khor of 5 Coltman close, Swallow Park, Gloucester, against the deportation order that they face.
Mrs. and Mrs. Khor originally came from Malaysia to study in the United Kingdom. They have been resident here for eight years and have integrated fully into the local community in Gloucestershire.
Mr. Khor is a chartered quantity surveyor and Mrs. Khor a qualified accountant. They have never claimed any state benefits, are completely self-sufficient and present no drain on the nation's resources.
The petition has 3,000 signatures as testimony to their popularity, their many friends and the belief of local people that they should be allowed to stay in this country. Their young son Ben was born here.
The petition reads:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The Humble Petition of Eddie and Pauline Khor sheweth That they and their son, Benjamin, wish to remain in the United Kingdom as permanent residents.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House request the Home Secretary to exercise discretion and grant residency to this family outside the immigration rules. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.