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confirmed that they do not intend to adopt a scheme similar to our
right of abode legislation, they have agreed that we can refer
publicly to the scope for flexibility within their existing
immigration and citizenship regulations. We have now asked the
Australians if they could also agree to a form of words about
flexibility within their immigration rules which we could use
publicly.
4. The US position is still unclear and there is considerable
resistance both within the Administration and in Congress to making
Hong Kong a special case. The Embassy in Washington have
recommended that the Prime Minister should raise this with President
Bush in Bermuda. Our public line should continue to be that the
matter is under consideration by the US Administration and there
have been expressions of support in principle in the US Congress.
5. Following this latest round of lobbying, we now have enough material to prepare a more detailed public line on international
support for use during Mr Maude's visit to Hong Kong and in the
debate on the Hong Kong Bill. Work on this has been set in hand.
A point we will need to bear in mind, however, is that unless we go
ahead with the Approved Secondment Scheme in some form, any
publicity which we give to the measures being taken by other
countries may lead to increased discontent among British companies.
(BTC telno 92).
6. Hong Kong have not yet been able to provide statistics on the number of passports/entry permits granted to Hong Kong people by other countries. But they are still pursuing this.
7. Both Hong Kong and Cape Town have advised strongly against pursuing this issue with the South African Government for the
reasons set out in the attached summary.
we drop this idea.
SAFD agree.
I therefore recommend that
ARPanc
A R Paul
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