IMMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG
31/2
If the Immigration Bill becomes law as presently drafted, the
position of persons from Hong Kong will be substantially the same
as at present. However, in line with the Government's policy that
there should be no further large scale immigration to the United
Kingdom, United Kingdom passport holders from Hong Kong will be
affected by the overall reduction in the number of Commonwealth
citizens permitted to enter the United Kingdom for employment.
2.On 26 May, 1971, the Home Secretary announced a reduction from
8500 to 2700 in the number of employment vouchers to be issued
each year to Commonwealth citi ns and alterations in the types
of employment and qualification which would entitle applicants
to vouchers. Prior to this a toral of 600 vouchers were reserved
for the dependent territories - no more than 50% of which were to
be issued to any one territory, and the maximum of 300 employment
vouchers were consistently taken up by applicants from Hong Kong.
In line with the general reduction in the number of vouchers
available, those reserved for the dependent territories were reduced
from 600 to 400 no more than 50% of which may go to any one
territory. The upper limit is therefore 200 for Hong Kong.
3. The revised employment voucher scheme aims to concentrate the
intake on persons with skills or professional qualifications to
offer. This principle is not being applied to applications from
the dependent territories. We shall therefore continue to accept
unskilled and semi skilled workers from Hong Kong.
4. The revised quotas of Commonwealth immigrants and the criteria
for selection by occupation will be continued when the Bill is
CONFIDENTIAL
1
/enacted