CONFIDENTIAL
3.
A number of policy issues remain to be resolved between
(a) Membership of Steering Committee.
British firms
in Hong Kong are keen that Peter Heap, Senior British
Trade Commissioner, should sit on the Governor's
Advisory Steering Group, to ensure that British
interests are properly represented in the selection
process. The British Chamber of Commerce would also
like a representative of their own on the committee.
await the Governor's decision.
We
(b) Assurances for Locally Engaged (LE) Staff of the
British Trade Commission and British Council. BTC and
BC staff will not qualify for citizenship under the
scheme. There is therefore a risk of losing LE staff to
other organisations (eg the US consulate), who can
provide assurances to their staff.
been pressing Home Office Ministers.
FCO Ministers have
(c) Definition of a British Company. The Governor is
legally responsible for determining which is a British
firm for the purposes of allocating "British links" points under the scheme. But he would prefer that the practical work involved is done by a committee bsed in
London representing FCO, Home Office, DTI and that the
results are given to him as "advice". We are discussing the implications at official level.
(d) British Links Points. British firms do not believe
that the 35 points available under the points scheme for service with a British organisation will be sufficient
to ensure that their employees achieve citizenship. In
fact, trial computer news by Hong Kong Immigration
Department indicate that, all other factors being equal, 35 points will be sufficient to decide the competition. Furthermore, since service with the Hong Kong
Government also attracts British links points, there is
DAWAEQ/3
CONFIDENTIAL