CONFIDENTIAL
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modull
importance to the UK and to British interests (paragraph 4.3).
Detailed statement on the value of Britain's economic stake in Hong
Kong.
Nationality
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- In accordance with the Committee's recommendation that the
Government should offer assurances to key personnel in certain
specific categories (paragraph 4.19) Secretary of State announced on
20 December that the Government proposed to introduce legislation to
give full British passports to 50,000 key people and their
dependants, without their having to leave the territory in order to
qualify. Further details were set out in the British Nationality
(Hong Kong) Bill which was published on 4 April and had its second
reading on 19 April.
As Committee recommended, Government have taken every available
opportunity to seek to promote international support for Hong Kong (paragraph 4.15). For some months now, we have been encouraging our
friends and partners to follow our lead in providing assurances to
Hong Kong people to give them the confidence to remain in the
territory. Several countries, including Singapore, France, the
Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg have already
found ways to give Hong Kong people assurances without their having to leave Hong Kong.
A number of other countries are still
considering what action they can take to assist, including those
whose nationality laws do not permit the offer of citizenship.
Australia and Canada are examining the scope for flexibility within their existing immigration regulations. The possibility of new
immigration arrangements for Hong Kong is also under consideration by the US Administration and there have been expressions of support
in the US Congress, including a proposal that the immigration quota
from Hong Kong should be increased to 20,000 a year beneficiaries
should be allowed to defer settlement in the United States until the
year 2002.
Noted Committee's recommendations that Section 4(5) of the British
Nationality Act 1981 should be used more generously in the future.
But as the Committee themselves pointed out, the then Home Secretary
CATAAU
CONFIDENTIAL