THE British Government has been criticised by senior army officers and Hong Kong media for its treatment of the Gurkhas, who are currently leaving Hong Kong ahead of the hand over to China on July 1st next year, Conor O'Clery reports.
London has refused to allow the families of the Nepalese soldiers transferred to England to travel with them, sending them back to Nepal instead. This was the result of Britain's restrictive immigration policies, said the South hina Morning Post, which accused Britain of giving "poor reward for years of loyal service."
If it was being done for financial reasons it was "absolutely disgraceful" stated Field Marshall Sir Nigel Bagnell, chief of the general staff from 1985 to 1988. Britain is reviewing its policy.
Meanwhile, the British garrison in Hong Kong commemorated the war dead yesterday on the territory's last Remembrance Day under British rule. The Governor, Mr Chris Patten, and the commander of the British forces in Hong Kong, Maj Gen Bryan Dullon, laid wreaths at the Cenotaph honouring those who died defending the colony.