dti
the departiment for Enterprise
Mr John Hague
Hong Kong Department
Room WH312
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Whitehall
London SW1A 2AH.
dti North East
Stanegate House
2 Groat Market Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1YN
Switchboard
Tyneside (091) 232 4722
Telex 53178
Fax Tyneside (091) 232 6742
Direct line
Tyneside (091) 235
7210
Our ref
NERO 5075/X
Your ref
Date
12 February
Murch!?
Dear Mur Hague
I understand from Howard Tracy, of DTI's Overseas Trade Division 2, that your office is dealing with questions relating to the right of abode of certain Hong Kong personnel.
The attached copy letter from Bonas Machine Company Limited is self-explanatory. Mr Harris, the Managing Director, wrote to my Secretary of State last October and received a reply from Mr J Morris of your Hong Kong Department in December. Since then the position of Bonas' Hong Kong operation has deteriora- ted considerably with two of its three key personnel having left. Mr Harris is understandably anxious to retain his one remaining key member of staff without whom Bonas' businesses in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland will be badly, perhaps irreparably, damaged. Bonas is an important company to the North East economy. Its continued success in the highly competitive, advanced technology field has attracted consider- able media attention and the company is often portrayed as a symbol of the resurgence of North East industry. The loss of such an important market at this time would not only let foreign competition in, perhaps for good, but could also inflict a serious blow on Bonas' overall performance.
I am aware that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working hard at present to introduce legislation to give certain Hong Kong residents right of abode. It would be of considerable value to Mr Harris if some indication of the timescale could be given to him so that he could re-assure his remaining staff in Hong Kong and thus retain their services.
I would be glad if you could give me any re-assuring advice which I can pass on to Mr Harris.
for sincerely
Danny Shap
D SHARPE
the
terprise
initiative