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The Nationality Issue
his issue should be looked at in the context of the overall cornerstones of HK's future.
The British Government's package of granting "passports to stay" to 50,000 households is a welcome move.
Britain is bound by the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and has the constitutional responsibility, to seek a stable and prosperous future for Hong Kong.
All the evidence in Hong Kong shows that those with full passports - not just British - will almost invariably stay in Hong Kong. People have a strong social and family commitment to Hong Kong and want to stay amongst the vibrant Cantonese culture. Britain has had a link with Hong Kong for 150 years; 1997 changes the relationship but does not bring it to an end, and Hong Kong will be of strategic and commercial importance to Britain:
In its own right.
As a springboard to China.
As a centre in high growth East Asia.
As an important link in the chain of international financial centres.
If, in the extreme case, the future of Hong Kong should be so bleak that the passports holders leave, they will not be a drain
on resources :
i)
They will come from one of the most dynamic and successful economies in the world.
ii)
They will work hard, carve out their own niche in society and contribute to the British economy.
iii)
They have never been a burden wherever they have moved.
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The scheme is not just for the elite of Hong Kong. It will be spread across the civil service, the professions and business community.
The scheme will encourage the Crown civil servants, vital to Hong Kong's stability, to stay and continue their loyal service. China's critical reaction to the scheme is misplaced, but it is based on a misunderstanding of the purpose of the scheme. Should the scheme not go through, it would have a negative effect on UK/HK relations and would make the UK's task in governing Hong Kong over the next 7 years more difficult.
There remains the need for international assistance, with Britain encouraging others to come up with similar schemes.