CONFIDENTIAL
b)
c)
give an idea of how the scheme will work in practice.
Annex A is a provisional draft setting this out in
general terms. I intend that a less detailed version
of this, pulling together the main features of the
scheme, should be available to Parliament at the time
of introduction of the Bill. That document would need
to be less specific, in particular, about what was proposed for 'the sensitive services' see paragraphs
24 28 below; and
invite colleagues to agree the line which I propose
should be taken in one or two areas of potential
difficulty.
Approved Secondment Scheme
3.
One feature of the Foreign Secretary's announcement on 20
December was a proposed secondment scheme, whereby people could
earn British citizenship by a total of five years' residence, partly in the UK and partly in Hong Kong. The Foreign Secretary and I have since discussed the future of this proposal. Although some of the enthusiasm originally expressed by companies for a scheme of this sort has waned since the announcement, because of the decision to count those granted citizenship in this way against the 50,000 ceiling, some companies remain interested and
Lord Sharp, in particular, has expressed a strong interest on the
part of Cable and Wireless. Dropping the scheme now would no doubt cause disappointment for such firms and their supporters
in Parliament.
4. On the other hand, the Governor
the Governor of Hong Kong is firmly opposed to a secondment scheme included in the 50,000 ceiling and, as the shape of the overall package has emerged more clearly in recent weeks, I have myself developed strong doubts about the
CONFIDENTIAL
2