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INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR
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OUR TELNO 18274 IMMIGRATION SAFETY NET FOR HONG KONG
SUMMARY
1. HOUSE PASSES IMMIGRATION BILL, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR HONG KONG SAFETY NET. NEEDS TO BE RECONCILED WITH THE SENATE IMMIGRATION BILL, AND ADOPTED BY CONGRESS BEFORE 19 OCTOBER.
DETAIL
2. ON 3 OCTOBER THE HOUSE VOTED 231-192 TO APPROVE THE MORRISON IMMIGRATION BILL. THE HONG KONG PROVISIONS (PARA 3 OF TUR) SURVIVED INTACT. NO ONE CHALLENGED THEM. PORTER
(R-ILLINOIS) SPOKE STRONGLY IN SUPPORT ARGUING THAT A HONG KONG BRAIN-DRAIN THREATENED TO DISRUPT THE ECONOMY, AND, WITH IT, US INTERESTS IN HONG KONG.
3. THE NEXT STAGE IS FOR THE BILL TO BE RECONCILED WITH THE SENATE IMMIGRATION BILL (WHOSE ONLY CURRENT PROVISION FOR HONG KONG IS TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL IMMIGRATION QUOTA) AT A SENATE/HOUSE CONFERENCE. THIS IS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE NEXT
WEEK. THE AGREED VERSION WILL NEED TO BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS BEFORE THE RECESS WHICH BEGINS ON 19 OCTOBER, ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN OUTSIDE CHANCE THAT IT COULD BE TAKEN UP IF THERE IS A
LAME DUCK SESSION AFTER THE NOVEMBER CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS. IF IT IS NOT, NEW BILLS WILL HAVE TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE NEXT SESSION.
4. OUR CONTACTS ON THE HILL ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE HONG KONG PROVISIONS ARE UNCONTROVERSIAL AND WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THE SENATE CONFEREES. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, A NUMBER OF OTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES CONNECTED WITH WIDER ASPECTS OF US IMMIGRATION POLICY WHICH NEED TO BE RESOLVED. NEVERTHELESS STAFFERS BELIEVE THAT, HAVING COME SO FAR, A REAL EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO PRODUCE AN AGREED BILL BEFORE THE RECESS. 5. THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION IS UNCERTAIN. THEY HAVE NOT OBJECTED TO THE HONG KONG PROVISIONS, BUT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE HOUSE VERSION, WHICH THEY HAVE INDICATED THEY WOULD VETO. IF, HOWEVER, A SENATE/HOUSE AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT OPPOSE THE OUTCOME.
6.
COPIES OF THE BILL, AND PORTER'S SPEECH BY BAG TO FCO,
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