E.K.
3.
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You will complete development of the scheme and send us your proposals in advance of Liz Grimsey's visit to Hong Kong with other colleagues, which will take place in the week beginning 12 February.
4. You will set out the occupational groups to be included in the scheme, and the basis for allocating places between them. We would envisage putting this scheme to Ministers at that point so that the general approach can be cleared with them. We understand that there will be about 20 groups and they will be designed so that no sector is rendered ineligible. Allocation of places will be on the basis of objective
of objective measures of emigration rates and difficulty of replenishment rather than on subjective assessment of the relative importance of different groups to Hong Kong's economy. We will need to be ready to justify the proposed inclusion of semi-skilled groups in terms of the "key personnel" principle. HKG will provide a broad indication of the proportion of places expected to go to each sector and a comparison of the chances of success which individuals will have in different groups.
5.
You also agreed to let us have a note explaining why it is not proposed to involve firms and other employers in the selection procedure (for example by asking them to nominate their key staff or to act as referees) or to assess the importance to Hong Kong of the organisations by which applicants are employed.
6. You will let us have, for the benefit of Ministers a note explaining the administrative arrangements including the assumptions used (including about the expected volume of applications), staffing and HKG's previous experience of running similar operations.
7.
On a more detailed matter the application form will be amended to enable the spouse to confirm by
confirm by signature her application for citizenship as a secondary beneficiary. (I would imagine that a separate form for use by spouses and children applying after the grant
grant of citizenship to the principal beneficiary will be needed.) The final draft of the application form(s) will be cleared with HMG.
We suggested that the term "special merit" in the points scheme be replaced by something more neutral.
8.
Matters to be pursued by UK Officials
9. We will press ahead with a view to achieving passage of the Bill at the earliest possible opportunity. To that end we intend to have instructions ready for Counsel by mid-February and are aiming for introduction of the Bill by Easter.
10.
will put to Ministers the case which
which you advanced strongly, on behalf of HKG for setting the ceiling at 225,000 primary and secondary beneficiaries (rather than 50,000 primary beneficiaries), or alternatively for accommodating additional numbers of staff in the sensitive and discipline services outside the Bill scheme, in particular through greater flexibility in the use of sections 4(5) and 6(1) of the British Nationality Act or
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