HL Deb 15 July 1993 vol 548 cc416-7

8.38 p.m.

Lord Bonham-Carter rose to move to resolve, That this House calls upon Her Majesty's Government to give full British citizenship to members of the non-Chinese ethnic minorities in Hong Kong who will be without a right of abode elsewhere after 1997.

The noble Lord said: My Lords, my first duty is to thank all noble Lords and noble Baronesses who have spoken for the extraordinary unanimity with which they have spoken and for their eloquence, experience and conviction. I particularly wish to thank the noble Baroness, Lady Dunn, who has made a journey to be here and who made such a magnificent speech. I congratulate also the noble Lord, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, on his shuttle from Scotland to England arid back again. I join with others in saying how much I respected the speech made by the noble Lord, Lord Glenarthur. I was particularly pleased to note that the noble Baroness, Lady Thatcher, was in her place throughout the debate. That added greatly to our proceedings. I wish to include in my thanks the noble Earl, Lord Ferrers, who had an absolutely impossible task to fulfil. For once he did not succeed in fulfilling that task.

The noble Earl will not recognise that the ethnic minorities are a special case. He will not recognise what is a unique case. He regards 50,000 as in some way a sacred, magical number which cannot possibly be changed. It can be changed even if it means primary legislation. He did not tackle the questions which were raised by the speakers in the debate.

Although I do not want to embarrass anyone, it seems to me that to say that to have a Division would be a sign of discord is nonsense. What we have seen is real disagreement. I believe that that real disagreement has to be tested. I therefore wish to test the opinion of the House on this Motion.

8.40 p.m.

On Question, whether the said Motion shall be agreed to?

Their Lordships divided: Contents, 60; Not-Contents, 48.

Division No. 3
CONTENTS
Attlee, E. Bramall, L.
Beaumont of Whitley, L.[Teller.] Butterfield, L.
Carmichael of Kelvingrove, L.
Beloff, L. Chalfont, L.
Bethell, L. Cox, B.
Bonham-Carter, L. Darcy (de Knayth), B.
David, B. Meston, L.
Donoughue, L. Morris, L.
Dunn, B. Morris of Castle Morris, L.
Falkland, V. Pitt of Hampstead, L.
Geraint, L. Prys-Davies, L.
Glenarthur, L. Rennell, L.
Graham of Edmonton, L.[Teller.] Richard, L.
Rodgers of Quarry Bank, L.
Greene of Harrow Weald, L. Russell, E.
Grey, E. St. John of Bletso, L.
Halsbury, E. Saltoun of Abernethy, Ly.
Harmsworth, L. Seear, B.
Harris of Greenwich, L. Selborne, E.
Harris of High Cross, L. Shackleton, L.
Hayhoe, L. Stoddart of Swindon, L.
Howell, L. Tordoff, L.
Hylton-Foster, B. Waverley, V.
Kilbracken, L. White, B.
Kitchener, E. Wigoder, L.
Lawrence, L. Williams of Mostyn, L.
Mclntosh of Haringey, L. Willoughby de Broke, L.
MacLehose of Beoch, L. Wilson of Rievaulx, L.
McNair, L. Wilson of Tillyorn, L.
Marlesford, L. Winchilsea and Nottingham, E.
Merlyn-Rees, L. Wyatt of Weeford, L.
NOT-CONTENTS
Arran, E. Astor, V.
Ashbourne, L. Blatch, B.
Blyth, L. Long, V.
Braine of Wheatley, L. Lyell, L.
Brougham and Vaux, L. Mackay of Ardbrecknish, L.
Bruntisfield, L. Mackay of Clashfem, L.[Lord Chancellor.]
Caithness, E.
Carnegy of Lour, B. Milverton, L.
Carnock, L. Mountevans, L.
Chalker of Wallasey, B. Moyne, L.
Clanwilliam, E. Peyton of Yeovil, L.
Cranborne, V. Renton, L.
Cumberlege, B. Rodger of Earlsferry, L.
Denton of Wakefield, B. St. Davids, V.
Downshire, M. St. John of Fawsley, L.
Faithfull, B. Seccombe, B.
Ferrers, E. Stewartby, L.
Fraser of Carmyllie, L. Strathclyde, L.
Goschen, V. Strathmore and Kinghome, E.[Teller.]
Hemphill, L.
Henley, L. Thomas of Gwydir, L.
Hesketh, L.[Teller.] Trumpington, B.
Howe, E. Ullswater, V.
Jenkin of Roding, L. Wakeham, L.[Lord Privy Seal.]
Leigh, L.
Lindsay. E.

Resolved in the affirmative, and Motion agreed to accordingly.

House adjourned at twelve minutes before nine o'clock.