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companies. Employees of Australian companies accepted for migration would be able to keep open Australian residence by spending just one day in Australia every five years. For those who are not employees of Australian companies, Senator Evans said that if, during the first three years after a migrant enters Australia, a family member gains Australian citizenship (which he pointed out requires only two years actual residence) that migrant qualifies for the same flexible arrangements as apply to employees of Australian firms. The relevant passage is highlighted in
the attached text.
Comment
no
4. We seem at last to have confirmation of the Australian position on a residency scheme for Hong Kong people. Nothing particular to Hong Kong is to be introduced for
This comes as non-discriminatory and precedent reasons. surprise: Senator Evans and Immigration Minister Hand made clear to Lord Caithness and the (then) Home Secretary
However, the practical that this would be too difficult. effect of the flexibility on existing regulations is to permit the 70,000 or so employees of about 250 Australian companies operating in Hong Kong, subject to qualifying as migrants, to remain in Hong Kong for at least ten years given just two judiciously planned 24 hour visits to Australia in that period.
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