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9 February 1990
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Dear Colleague, HP 340/4
HONG KONG
At the end of 1989, the Government annd
RECEIVED
1 1 APR 1990
DESK O
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
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Parliament exceptionally to allow British citizenship to be granted to a maximum of 50,000 key people in Hong Kong and their families. We hope to bring in a Bill soon, and in the meantime thought that Members would appreciate a summary of why we have chosen this
course.
Our scheme is designed to encourage people to stay in Hong Kong, not to come to Britain. Talented and enterprising people are
Countries like Canada and leaving Hong Kong in growing numbers.
Australia which have selective immigration policies welcome the doctors, teachers, managers and engineers who are now quitting the territory. This exodus of professional skill threatens both Hong Kong's prosperity and her good government during the last seven years of British rule.
Most of these emigrants would prefer to stay in Hong Kong. Almost all of them are ethnic Chinese. businesses are based in the territory.
Their careers and their
But because of events in
mainland China they also want the assurance of a foreign passport which would enable them to settle abroad if they became convinced that they had no future in Hong Kong. At present, they can normally gain such an assurance only by emigrating and settling in the country where they hope to acquire citizenship.
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