BACKGROUND
Nationality and Related Issues
Reference
Extract from Hansard of 23 July 1990
1. In order to help restore confidence and reduce the rising emigration rate in Hong Kong, the Government introduced the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act on 4 April 1990. It received Royal Assent on 26 July. It provides for the grant of British citizenship to 50,000 key personnel from the private and public sectors (on a ratio of about 2:1) and to their spouses and children under eighteen.
The
2. The Selection Scheme encompassed in the Act will be set
out in an Order-in-Council to be tabled when Parliament
resumes in October. The Scheme will operate in two tranches. The first tranche, some 87% of the places, will commence as soon as the Order-in-Council is approved.
Hong Kong Government hopes to begin to issue the first
passports by late spring or early summer 1991. The second tranche will be reserved for allocation closer to 1997 to cater for those who would by then have moved into key positions. Generally the British business community in Hong Kong have welcomed the Nationality Package but they have been making representations on some specific issues.
3.
They would like to see a bigger allocation of points made available for employees of British firms in Hong Kong. One argument used is that other countries (eg UK, Germany and France) have or are planning to give residency to their companies' employees, whereas our scheme is not generous enough, but other countries do not have the responsibility for the continued good administration of Hong Kong as a
FABAMZ/1
CONFIDENTIAL