Thank you for your letter of
enclosing this one/a copy of one from
to
about the Government's proposals for giving 50,000 key personnel the
confidence to remain in Hong Kong up to and beyond 1 July 1997 when the territory reverts to Chinese control.
As you will know, the Foreign Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 20 December in which he outlined our proposals and the reasons why we
consider them to be essential. I attach a copy for
information.
36
There is little I would wish to add to that statement except to stress that the proposals are designed not to encourage immigration into this country but to persuade people to stay in Hong Kong so that they can continue to contribute to the success of the territory and benefit the community as a
whole. We must bolster confidence now in order to avert a collapse of
confidence in the future, which could lead to very large numbers of people from Hong Kong seeking admission to Britain. The measures we have announced are an essential and indispensable element of that objective. The necessary legislation will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.
HKD 340/4.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 1 APR 1990
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