DESKBY
4.
CONFIDENTIAL
The announcement of the scheme, by demonstrating the
Government's commitment to Hong Kong at a time when confidence
in the territory was at a low ebb, undoubtedly had a stabilising
effect on the public mood there. It also helped to encourage
other governments to provide similar assurance schemes for Hong
Kong people.
5. It is true that the number of applicants is lower than the
estimates which appeared in the press last year. But this does
not mean, as Mr Segal suggests, that Hong Kong people have
"snubbed" the offer. Because the points system under the scheme is fully objective and transparent, potential applicants were
able to assess accurately their prospects of success. It seems
likely that many of those who believed that they would not be
successful decided not to apply. It is also relevant that many people in Hong Kong have already obtained foreign passports, and are therefore ineligible.
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MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
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