SENT BY Xerox Telecopier 7021 18- 5-90 17:19:
012703387:# 3
HONGKONG 007339
UNCLASSIFIE
XTENDING THE VALIDITY OF IMMIGRANT VISAS ISSUED TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS IN ALL PREFERENCE CATEGORIES
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REDUCING THE PERIOD OF RESIDENCE REQUIRED FOR CITIZENSHIP FROM 5 TO 3 YEARS AND REDUCING THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE COMPONENT OF SUCH RESIDENCE TO 1.5 YEARS
IMPROVING AVAILABILITY OF EXTENDED ABSENCE BENEFITS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS BY REDUCING THE PERIOD OF PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN THE U.S. FROM ONE YEAR TO 6 MONTHS
4. PCST EELIEVES THAT THE PROPOSALS ARE GENERALLY REASONABLE AND HAVE APPLICABILITY WORLD-WIDE RATHER THAN JUST IN HONG KONG. WHILE WE HAVE RESERVATIONS AS NOTED REFTEL B ABOUT THE UTILITY OF EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF IMMIGRANT VISAS ISSUED IN HONG KONG, WE BELIEVE TH THE OTHER HONG KONG SPECIFIC PROPOSAL CONCERNING IS POST-1997 SEPARATION FROM THE ANNUAL CHINA LIM. TATION MERITS FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION. WITH BOTH CHINA D HONG KONG NOW HEAVILY SUBSCRIBED, HONG KONG BORA
ICANTS WILL BE DISADVANTAGED IF THEY HAVE TO C TE FOR ONE POOL OF NUMBERS.
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IMMIGRATION REFORM IS NOT THE PANACEA FOR BOOSTING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE THAT SOME BELIEVE. NEVERTHELESS, WITH EMIGRATION OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST FROM THE TERRITORY NOW AVERAGING 1.000 PER WEEK, EFFORTS TO ASSIST U.S. COMPANIES RETAIN KEY PERSONNEL AND MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE POSITION IN THE REGION.WILL REQUIRE CHANGES IN U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW WHICH, WE BELIEVE, MERITS DEPARTMENT SUPPORT. ANDERSON
FT #7339
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UNCLASSIFIED
HONGKONG 237339