to be made by the Privy Council. The earliest Privy Council sitting after October would be on 20 November. Once the Order is made by the Privy Council, the British Nationality (Hong Kong) (Recommendations for Citiznehsip) Regulations 1990 and
British Nationaltiy (Hong Kong) (Registration of Citizens) Regulations 1990 will also be made and brought into force. The direction to the Governor, setting out the quotas in the first tranche, will also issue.
the
19
If everything goes well, the Scheme will be implemented in Hong Kong on 1 December 1990 when submission of applications may commence.
Meanwhile the Governor will appoint a Steering Committee to be chaired by the Chief Secretary to advise him on the implementation of the scheme under section 3 (3) (a) of the Act. Applications will be invited with effect from 1 December 1990 until 28 February 1991 when applications for places in the first tranche under the GOC and DSC will close. Vetting of applications then begins on 1 March. This will include computation of points scored by all applicants, detailed examination by the Steering Committee, interviews and character checks of applicants, and finally recommendation by the Governor to the Home Secretary. The Administration is aiming to register the first batch of successful applicants as British citizens in Summer 1991.
PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS
20
in
A large-scale publicity campaign will be launched November to keep the public well informed of the scheme and application procedures. The publicity measures to be adopted include media briefing, publication of information pamphlets, TV and radio APIS, back-up publicity such as TV interviews and media visits to Immigration Department processing centre. Sufficient copies of the application form and accompanying guidance notes as well as
reference manuals will be widely distributed at all District Offices, Immigration Department counters, Post Offices and other commercial outlets. While the application forms will be free, members of the public who wish to purchase a copy of the reference manual may do so at Government publications centres, Distict Offices and other commercial outlets.
(The Director
Administration, Mr. D. TSANG, will attend
for this item.)
6 October 1990
COUNCIL CHAMBER