CONFIDENTIAL
D
The Hong Kong Government would in any case not want to see the
Quota abolished. Their views are set out in Hong Kong telno 49.
4.
5. The Quota runs by calendar year. This year's scheme has not yet
started: the Department of Employment are awaiting resolution of the
issue between the Home Office and ourselves. Employers in the
United Kingdom, nearly all in the catering business, apply under the
scheme on behalf of the personnel they require to recruit in Hong Kong. The system is simpler and takes less time than normal work permits, which are anyway not generally available to semi or
unskilled workers.
Argument
6.
It would be worth deciding now to abolish the Quota if we could
make use of this decision in the course of the passage of the
nationality legislation through Parliament. It may might serve as a
sop to the anti immigration lobby; but the numbers involved are so
small (less than 150 per year) that it is hardly likely to have a
significant impact one way or the other. Indeed it is unlikely that
many MPs are even aware of the existence of the Quota.
7. On the other hand, if we were to announce the abolition of the
Quota as part of a quid pro quo for the nationality package, this
might arouse the wrath of Labour MPs and others, who would see this
as an indication of an elitist approach to emigration from Hong
Kong. (The argument would run that we were putting the interests of
the rich and influential elite before those of cooks and
bottlewashers.)
8.
For these reasons, I think it would be better if we were to
avoid committing ourselves to a decision about this Quota until
after the nationality legislation has been introduced in Parliament,
when we can better judge the prevailing political mood.
ARPALL
A R Paul
CONFIDENTIAL