C..
CONFIDENTIAL
3. Nevertheless, I can see some force in the Governor of Hong Kong's plea in that the demand for employment vouchers from Hong Kong has always exceeded the supply whereas the other territories have never taken up their full entitlement. Hong Kong is therefore going to be hit harder in any case than the other dependent territories and if the Department of Employment's review of the alien work force results in fewer Hong Kong aliens getting work permits the blow will be to that extent intensified. I see some merit therefore in Mr Streeton's suggestion that we might mitigate the blow to the extent of the raising of any one territories' quota to 240 work permits and, on present figures, it is difficult to see that this would prejudice any of the other dependent territories. The figure would of course have to be subject to annual review as indeed will the whole quota for Malta and the dependent territories.
4. Since the actual distribution of permits between the various territories has not been laid down by Ministers byt was put on record in your letter to Mr Fitzgerald and accepted by him, I see no reason why we should not put the suggestion to the Home Office and the Department of Employment at official level. I have spoken to Mr Bohan and Mr Covington. Mr Bohan did not think that the Home Office would have any strong feelings in the matter. Mr Covington, on the other hand, pointed out that the Department of Employment were already worried that it was going to be difficult to keep the number of people coming to this country for employment down to the figure envisaged by Ministers, and that they would therefore be likely to look unfavourably at any proposal that would increase the number. I think we must accept that, while raising the ceiling for any one territory to 240 does not affect the overall quota, neverthe- less, in practice it would mean a certain increase in the number of people coming to this country in that Hong Kong would certainly take up the extra 40 permits which would otherwise probably go by default. However, as Mr Covington admitted, it is a small number and might be negotiable.
5. If you think it worth putting this proposition to the Home Office and the Department of Employment and if the other interested departments in the FCO agree, I will draft for you to Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Pickford.
6. I am sending copies of this minute to Mr Laird in Hong Kong Department, Mr Watt in Atlantic and Indian Ocean Department, Mr Posnett in West Indian Department, Miss Emery in Pacific Dependent Territories Department, and also to Sir Leslie Monson to whom the Governor's telegram was addressed.
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24 March 1971
4
H Downing
Migration and Visa Department
CONFIDENTIAL