restore confidence in the future of Hong Kong that HMG work out a scheme that will give Passports to key people in Hong Kong that will persuade those people to remain in Hong Kong. One suggestion is that HMG should publish criteria including a points system which would award points to intending immigrants for particular skills required in Britain. Once approved the intended immigrant would have the right to a full British Passport.
To achieve the right of abode he or she would then have to work in Hong Kong with an "Approved Employer" (a British company or company with British connections) for a period of say five years. Clearly there are several other ways in which this could be achieved but it is generally felt that the French solution places an unreasonable burden on local management. French Banks have been given a number of passports which they may distribute to key employees as they see fit. Similarly, American Banks have been allowed to issue a certain number of 'green' employment cards to key personnel who they would otherwise lose on an ad hoc basis. (We ourselves recently lost the opportunity to employ a new Manager because his current employer (an American bank) 'acquired' a green card for him.) Whatever modem is adopted it is felt that HMG has a duty to lead the field in this matter and other Governments would follow.
November 1989