CTWAJG
CONFIDENTIAL
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SALE OF PASSPORTS/PERMANENT RESIDENCY CERTIFICATES TO HONG KONG PEOPLE
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Since 1. We have discussed Mr January's minute to me of 18 July.
is then we have learned that Mr John Shearer, a TCI businessman, behind another scheme to sell Belizean passports to Hong Kong people as a business venture. This has led the Department to consider more carefully how we might respond to this and similar ventures in the future, and in particular what line Mr Gorham (Head of WIAD) should take when Mr Shearer calls on him on 4 August.
2. You have already seen the draft circular I prepared in response
The susbstance of that is still valid. to Mr January's minute. However, in view of the Belizean proposal, we feel this advice should be wider in scope and should more accurately reflect our fundamental concerns.
3.
In the final analysis our responsibility is to the people of
It is our belief that a Hong Kong.
belief that a secure future can be preserved Nevertheless, we for them and this is our over-riding policy aim. accept that there are those in Hong Kong whose anxieties about their future have led them to seek the assurance of a refuge elsewhere if things should turn bad. We have assured such people, in an effort to persuade them to stay in Hong Kong and help support her in the future, that if the worst came to to worst we would accept our special responsibility for the people of Hong Kong and that we are actively canvassing our international partners to help if the scale of the problem turns out to be beyond our capacity to cope.
4.
Nevertheless, there will inevitably be those who would prefer to have other assurances in case of a breakdown in the arrangements guaranteed under the Joint Declaration. It is in our and Hong Kong's interests that these people should obtain. such assurances,
For this reason we since only then will they stay in Hong Kong. have no objection to any scheme that offers what is in effect an "insurance policy": the provision of residency/citizenship elsewhere
We would be more doubtful about to be exercised only if necessary. any resettlement schemes which insist on a residency requirement as a means of qualification for a new residency/citizenship document. These would inevitably have the effect of depopulating Hong Kong at a very difficult time and contributing to the brain drain rather
For than encuraging people to stay, which is our objective . obvious reasons HMG could not be seen to be promoting a policy with this as its end. It is, incidentally, not clear to me which
insurance or resettlement the Belize scheme falls into. category
This is a crucial point.
5x18
doné
1 SE MCAD pl.
Min Edli or
Mr. Jayday
See also
CONFIDENTIAL
DE 18-77
my
Letter
9 15 Angi
out
Mr. Sheares has dropped his idee of calling
today
bat will no doubt resest to it. Useful quitance nedettelons. Kali