CONFIDENTIAL
076723
MDHIAN 1887
PERCENT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION. WHILE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS MAJOR PLANS TO EXPAND TERTIARY EDUCATION SO THAT THE NUMBER OF TERTIARY PLACES RISES FROM THE PRESENT 38,000 TO SOME 67,000 IN 1995, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF NEWLY QUALIFIED GRADUATES CANNOT, IN THE SHORT TERM, COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS, TECHNICIANS AND MANAGERS.
4. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS FOR EMIGRATION THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED NOT ONLY BY THE CONSULATES OF THE MAIN EMIGRATION DESTINATIONS, IE CANADA, USA AND AUSTRALIA, BUT ALSO BY COUNTRIES NOT PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED LIKELY EMIGRATION DESTINATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAVE COME UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE TO TAKE STEPS
TO GRANT RIGHT OF ABODE IN BRITAIN TO ALL BRITISH NATIONALS IN HONG KONG INDEED SOME HAVE EVEN PRESSED FOR SUCH A RIGHT TO BE GRANTED
TO ALL HONG KONG PEOPLE.
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5. IT IS IN THE LIGHT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT DECISIVE ACTION IS NECESSARY TO STEM THE TIDE OF EMIGRATION BY PROVIDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN KEY SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY AND THE CIVIL SERVICE WITH THE CONFIDENCE TO
STAY IN HONG KONG AND TO CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPERITY.
ENDS
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
60
ΜΑΙΝ
57
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
. (RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D (FE)
PUSD
NEWS D
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
ADDITIONAL
3
MR WHOMERSLEY LEGAL ADVISERS MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS
~~~~
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
2
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CONFIDENTIAL