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g) Agreed.
h) Agreed.
3.
I agree with your points about the approved
secondment scheme. I accept that it will have to be accommodated within the 50,000 ceiling, although this will make it much less attractive to many Hong Kong companies, and deter some from taking advantage of it. It would be a pity if the scheme, which has presentational advantages and which should be of particular benefit to British interests, were to meet with a poor response for this reason. We will
undoubtedly come under pressure to make it additional to
the 50,000 quota.
The Selection Schemes
4. I agree that it will be necessary to publish an
outline of the schemes at the same time as the Bill
itself. I am glad that work is progressing rapidly on this. I understand that the talks with the visiting Hong
Kong team were productive.
Timing
5.
I am pleased that officials are working towards introducing the Bill by Easter: I understand that the week beginning 2 April is the target, and I hope that we can keep to this schedule. It is clearly very important that we should achieve Royal Assent before the end of
July.
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