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со 340/18
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
08 JAN 1990
27
125525
MDHOAN 9756
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 16010OZ PEKING
TELNO 1165
OF 151725Z DEC 89
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
AND TO DESKBY 16010OZ HONG KONG,
HONG KONG
iaken
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM MCLAREN, AUSS (FOR HONG KONG, STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR) (FOR BTC HONG KONG, STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR HEAP)
NATIONALITY
1.
STRICTLY FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION AT THIS STAGE, MINISTERS EXPECT TO ANNOUNCE THE DETAILS OF A NATIONALITY PACKAGE ON WEDNESDAY, 20 DECEMBER.
20 DECEMBER. SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL BY CABINET CAT A SPECIAL MEETING THE PREVIOUS DAY), THE MAIN FEATURES ARE
LIKELY TO BE AS FOLLOWS:
(A)
(B)
(C)
1
(D)
2.
THERE WILL BE AN ABSOLUTE CEILING OF 225,000 ON THE NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES. THIS WILL INCLUDE DEPENDANTS.
BENEFICIARIES WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH A CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED POINTS SYSTEM WHICH WILL TAKE ACCOUNT OF VALUE TO HONG KONG AS WELL AS PROPENSITY TO EMIGRATE. LONG SERVICE WITH BRITISH INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG WILL ALSO BE A CONSIDERATION.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS AND THEIR DEPENDANTS WILL BE AWARDED FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.
THERE WILL ALSO BE AN APPROVED SECONDMENT SCHEME, WITHIN THE OVERALL CEILING, WHICH WILL ENABLE COMPANIES IN HONGKONG TO SEND KEY PERSONNEL FOR WORK OR TRAINING TO THE UK FOR RELATIVELY SHORT PERIODS, WITH TIME IN HONG KONG COUNTING TOWARDS
THE TOTAL QUALIFYING RESIDENCE PERIOD FOR ACHIEVING
SETTLED STATUS.
WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING THE CHINESE ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT TIMING WILL BE EXTREMELY TIGHT. IT IS ALREADY CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE CONSIDERABLE
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