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provide. The first aim of the proposed agreements was to receive assistance for the DTS in the event of oil spillages, whether maritime or terrestrial. The agreements could probably be extended to cover other maritime spillages (eg chemicals).
Item 6 Hong Kong BDTCs
COMMUN
format
would enjoy
18. Mr Wood reported that there was a long-standing resentment in Hong Kong that the Territory's BDTCS had no right of abode in UK. The resentment had recently been exacerbated by the news that
issued with 100,000 Portuguese nationals in Macao would be granted Portuguese
These nationality and EC/passports, and hence access to the UK. developments in Portuguese policy had been highlighted by the issue of the new EC format passport. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs,
На Кот- сотлет had provided a further Committee in their enquiry in Hong Kong particularly focussed on the about question of nationality. Recent events in China had made this issue even more pressing.
19.
to
C
Consideration had been
given as to whether anything
could be done to
concemi,
In early May, an FCO/Home Office seminar had been held ateer HK- Chevening to discuss the whole spectrum of immigration policy. The briefing for the seminar had drawn attention to the implications for other DTS of any concession made to Hong Kong in this field. But the view had been taken at Chevening that with 1997 approaching, Hong Kong in the immigration context was a problem sui generis. Policy options had been considered. It was clear that Parliament would not agree to a "passports for all" policy which would in theory open the floodgates to 31/4 million Hong Kong Chinese immigrants into the UK. On the following day The Prime Minister would be meeting the Governor of Hong Kong to discuss other possible measures eg greater flexibility regarding admission of Crown Servants, admission concessions to businessmen (investors, managers)
and other professionals. Concessions such as these, requiring changes to primary or secondary/immigration legislation, might at least help stem the 'brain drain' from Hong Kong. (In the early/mid 1980s, emigration from Hong Kong had averaged 27,000 pa; in 1987-8 this figure had risen to 40-45,000, most of the exodus being to US, Canada and Australia.) The aim would be to provide the
To
alternative), measures
nationality of
on 8 June
entrepreneurial classes, so essential to Hong Kong's future, with an
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