Ourget CF/HKG/680/1
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• Direct line 01-389 4879
From the Director-General Sir Richard Francis KCMG
The Rt Hon Douglas Hurd CBE MP
Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Downing Street West
LONDON
SW1A 2AL
The British Council
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M6/3
Promoting cultural, educational and technical co-operation between Britain and other countries
10 Spring Gardens London SW1A 2BN
2. Telephone 01-930 8466
Telex 8952201 BRICON G Fax 01-839 6347
5 March 1990
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Dear Dangras,
I understand that David Orr mentioned to you last week our very real concern at the damage that could be done to our operation in Hong Kong, if our
if our locally engaged staff were not included within the 50,000 Heads of Families who will, under the current proposals, be eligible for British citizenship.
As you know, the Council has a substantial operation in Hong Kong and is seen as a vital element in the overall Britain/Hong Kong relationship. Through our programmes we provide a point of access to British education, training and culture and, through our very presence, visible evidence of Britain's long term commitment to the people of Hong Kong.
Reports in the press in Hong Kong and in Britain suggest that passports will be granted primarily to professional occupational groups such as accountants, engineers, lawyers, doctors etc, while connections with Britain and service for British organisations have not been emphasised recently. Staff had believed from your speech to the House of Commons in December that these would be major factors in any decisions taken on nationality, and it had been hoped that they would be given a specific place in quotas. The press reports would have us believe that this is not the case and that our staff will have to compete in the pool with the professionals listed above. Our Hong Kong staff members have told us of their anxiety that few of them, if any, will qualify under the points system currently being devised.
Many of our staff have given long and valuable service of just over 60 staff, 5 have 20 or more years of service and 20 have 10 or more years and, in the run up to 1997, their specialist skills, knowledge and continuing loyalty will be of crucial
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