CONFIDENTIAL
2/E1,
EFFECT ON HONG KONG OF THE UK IMMIGRATION ACT 1971
1.
A copy of the background brief prepared for the Prime
Minister's visit to Hong Kong is attached. This covers both the
question of entry certificates for prominent people in Hong Kong, and
work permits for the Hong Kong catering trade in the UK.
Possible Criticisms
2.
(a)
(b)
Line to Take
3.
"What?
mention further
purposes?
That it should be made easier for Members of ExCo and
LegCo and other prominent citizens to enter the United
Kingdom: at present they cannot get permits for
multiple entries valid for more than 12 months. By
contrast the USA issue four year permits in special
cases.
That the number of work permits available to "Hong Kong
citizens" is too small.
|(a) Some concessions have been made in our entry procedures.
(b) Hong Kong receives a substantial proportion of the total
number of work permits allocated to all the dependent
territories.
New immigration to the United Kingdom
has to be restricted in the interest of good community
relations.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
14 January 1974
CONFIDENTIAL