UNIT
Reflected in Sof S lester of 1/2 to Home Sec.
TUE 1
CONFIDENTIAL,
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6/2
.
15:45
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are dealing
your
with Thus
C.CPS/Ministers
Telephone 01-273
5802
Telex 9155644 Fax 01-273 5821
Secretary of State
The Rt Hon David Waddington QC MP
Secretary of State
Home Office
Queen Annes Gate
LONDON SW1H 9AT
M. Danad Muuritabe My Nidett
YPSINY Maude PS/MV Sounsoury Mr Gumore
•Miss, Spencer
| J ́7 January 1990
WIAD MVD
NTI
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WORK PERMIT QUOTA
Du
Den Dawid
Following the statement
I
in
the
House
about
RMD
Legal Advisers Mr
Lidington
Hong Kong
on 20
SAK
December, would like to turn to the proposal in your letter of 24/1
Territories Work 15 December to Douglas to abolish the Dependent Permit Quota (DT_Quota). I have seen Douglas' reply suggesting that the Quota be retained for Dependent Territories other Hong Kong.
than
think it I agree with Douglas that the Quota should be retained for these Territories and that 50 is the right limit. But I also would be potentially and unnecessarily damaging to put an end to our current Hong Kong Quota at this time, with little benefit.
to the there is no The current figure of 150 Hong Kongers is hardly a threat
to the point, and, more
years resident labour force; connection between the Quota scheme, which for more than 20
and the country, this has provided a small number of opportunities for unskilled workers To make to help the Chinese catering industry in
of one with current proposals for up to 50,000 professional families. such a connection by combining the withdrawal development of the other would create the wrong impression. could give ammunition to those who criticise the new proposals
it would produce considerable resentment elitist, and bitterness among our sizeable resident Chinese community.
the
It
as
and
Our Chinese community works predominantly in the catering trade. It is the caterers who largely employ those who fill the Hong Kong Quota. The representative Chinese associations have been pressing for an announcement of the Quota figure, customarily made early in the year, and their caterers will have already recruited in Hong
ME
WPLUYM! CONFIDENTIAL
1
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