§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the fact that they are enlisted into the British Army and not the Hong Kong Auxiliary Services, and that they pay income tax to the United Kingdom and not Hong Kong, personnel of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps will be given British Passports even if their applications exceed the allocated quota.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Viscount Cranborne)The quota of British citizenship places available to members of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps was determined by the formula which is prescribed in the British Nationality (Hong Kong) (Selection Scheme) Order 1990. In the second tranche of passports there has been an alteration to the formula which improves the position of members of the Hong Kong armed services. We see no case for further altering the position. Members of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps pay income tax to the United Kingdom because they are employed directly by the Crown. Although they are enlisted into the British Army, they have their own terms and conditions of service and are not normally required to serve outside Hong Kong.