SECRET
8
Action
30.
As HMG cannot make a loss in operating this
Scheme and the costs to be incurred by the UK side will
be relatively small, it is agreed that a direct
reimbursement of costs to HMG will be administratively
simpler and tidier. Both sides will clear this
arrangement with their respective Treasury authorities.
Monitoring Procedures
31.
As it would be politically sensitive to gather
information on the movements of individual
beneficiaries, HMG and HKG agree that statistical aggregates on departure figures of beneficiaries who
have left Hong Kong for over six months will be
provided. Such figures will overstate the numbers of
Hong Kong families which may have settled in the UK and
must be used with care.
HMG &
HKG
Legislative Drafting Instructions and Timetable
32.
HMG will consult HKG on the bill before its
introduction. The bill is likely to be tabled about
one week before Easter and debated in Parliament around
the third week of April. Committee stage will probably take place in May and the bill will be presented to the
House of Lords in late June or July. The Governor and
the Chief Secretary have agreed to send a small HK team
to UK to assist in the processing of the Bill should the
need arise.
HMG