C
of them are now emigrating.
There is also, of course, as
H
indicated earlier, some extra flexibility available where age is
concerned under the special circumstances heading.
1
Concern was expressed in some quarters, particularly the British
business community in Hong Kong, about the number of points which
can be awarded to those employed by British firms. We have been
urged to increase them. Mr Speaker, the aim of these points is
to give such employees a measure of advantage over equally
qualified counterparts employed elsewhere. The award of these
points is not designed to guarantee success for all applicants
working in British companies. It would be wrong to rig the
system in such a way that employees of British firms won places
at the expense of others who were better qualified and therefore
arguably more key to Hong Kong as a whole.
We have looked at this issue with particular care and believe it
would be a mistake to increase the maximum of 35 points which is
available under this heading. Competition for places in the
General Occupational Class will be fierce and there are bound to
be groups of applicants bunched around the qualifying mark.
these circumstances, even a handful of points for those serving
British firms will ensure that they are placed higher up the list
than their counterparts who are, in all other respects, equal.
In
We have, however, agreed a change in the way in which the points
should be awarded. They will be awarded to current employees of
British firms for any previous periods of service with a British
6