SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 09103OZ FCO TELNO 867
OF 09092OZ MARCH 90
Ако
AICO 34014
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 1 MAY 1990
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRYJ
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
044606 MDHIAN 0446
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR PLEASE PASS TO GOVERNOR
--(161)
YOUR TELNO 522: HONG KONG NATIONALITY PACKAGE
1. I SHARE THE GOVERNOR'S CONCERN OVER THE PROSPECT OF EXCLUDING OVER THREE QUARTERS OF THE WORKING POPULATION IN HONG KONG FROM ANY POSSIBILITY OF BENEFITING UNDER THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE. THIS WILL UNDERMINE THE PRINCIPLE ANNOUNCED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT THE SCHEME WOULD EMBRACE PEOPLE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF WALKS OF LIFE IN HONG KONG. THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS RAISED THE EXPECTATIONS OF MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG THAT THEY STAND A CHANCE, HOWEVER SLIM, TO BENEFIT FROM THE PACKAGE. EXCLUSION OF SUCH A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION WILL ACCENTUATE THE CRITICISM OF THE DIVISIVE EFFECT OF THE SCHEME.
2. ON THE PROPOSED EXCLUSION OF THE TWO GROUPS OF OCCUPATIONS IN PARA 1 OF TUR :
(A) OUR LATEST CALCULATIONS SHOW THAT THE ESTATE AND HOUSING MANAGER GROUP (25) SUFFERS FROM AN EMIGRATION RATE HIGHER THAN ONE PERCENT. IT IS A KEY OCCUPATION IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING OUR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME. A VAST MAJORITY OF OUR POPULATION LIVE IN HIGH DENSITY TOWER BLOCKS IN WHICH PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT IS ESSENTIAL.
(B) I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED AT THE PROPOSED EXCLUSION OF SOCIAL WORKERS. UNLIKE THE UK, HONG KONG ADOPTS A MINIMALIST APPROACH TO THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES. THE RELATIVELY FEW WORKERS INVOLVED PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY NET IN CATERING TO THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, THE ELDERLY ETC. THEY ARE ALSO EMIGRATING IN SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS AND THERE IS A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF THEM IN HONG KONG.
(C) AS FOR THE OTHER ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONALS, THEY INCLUDE KEY OCCUPATIONS SUCH AS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS ETC, WHO ARE IN CRITICALLY SHORT SUPPLY AND ARE
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