UNCLASSIFIED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 24
UNCLASSIFIED
HRD 34014
нко
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
10 APR 1990
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
OF 24081OZ JANUARY 90
INDEX
NATIONALITY PACKAGE
(45)
047042
MDLIAN 2830
1. MOST NEWSPAPERS THIS MORNING (24 JANUARY) CARRY REPORTED COMMENTS BY DONALD TSANG (DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION) ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE FOLLOWING HIS RETURN FROM TALKS WITH THE HOME OFFICE IN LONDON. NEWSPAPER VENDORS PLACARDS READ 'DETAILS OF U K PASSPORT PACKAGE ANNOUNCED'.
2. TSANG IS REPORTED AS SAYING THAT NURSES, ACCOUNTANTS, AUDITORS AND COMPUTER SPECIALISTS WILL BE GIVEN TOP PRIORITY BECAUSE THEY ARE PROFESSIONS MOST AFFECTED BY EMIGRATION. HE SAID THAT THOSE ALREADY PROMISED U K CITIZENSHIP UNDER PREVIOUS SCHEMES (ETHNIC MINORITIES AND TOP POLICEMEN) ARE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT SCHEME, LEADING THE PRESS TO COMMENT 'THE INCLUSION OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT OF ABODE PACKAGE MEANS THAT FAR FEWER THAN 50,000 FAMILIES WILL BE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN BRITAIN' (STANDARD). HE REVEALED THAT A HOME OFFICE TEAM WOULD COME TO HONG KONG FOR A SECOND ROUND OF MEETINGS AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. THE DETAILS OF THE PACKAGE WOULD BE ANNOUNCED SOMETIME IN MARCH AND IT IS HOPED THE FIRST BATCH OF BRITISH PASSPORTS WILL BE GRANTED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE BILL BEING PASSED, AND WOULD THUS BE BEFORE NEXT CHRISTMAS.
3. TSANG IS ALSO REPORTED AS SAYING HE DISCUSSED THE SETTING UP OF A JOINT HONG KONG-BRITISH OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT THE SCHEME AND THAT IT WAS YET TO BE WORKED OUT WHETHER IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN LONDON OR HONG KONG. HE ADDED 'WE MUST KEEP THE WHOLE IMPLEMENTATION PROCEEDINGS OPEN, FAIR AND JUST'.
4. SEE MIFT.
HEAP
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1
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