Ove Arup & Partners
RBH/pr
18 July 1991
Mr AR Paul
Hong Kong Department
Foreign & Commonweath Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
13 Fitzroy Street London W1P 6BQ
Telephone 071-636 1531 Telex 295341 OVARPT G Facsimile 071-580 3924
Dear Alan,
I realise that quite a few months have now passed since I visited Hong Kong, to discuss with my colleagues there the question of some of them obtaining British passports. You will recall that we spoke about this
in February before I left.
There is no particularly new feedback that I can give you. But it was clear that, in general terms, most of the Hong Kong staff delayed making any application for the British arrangement until the last possible minute. The majority wanted to go elsewhere if they possibly could. Canada and Australia were their first choices.
Our good Chinese engineers are still leaving us at a greater rate than usual. Their motives seem to be twofold. Firstly, to try to go overseas to obtain resident's rights, and secondly, to move around within Hong Kopng to obtain the highest possible salary, even for short term work, so that they can save as much money as possible prior to leaving in the future.
One of the biggest drains in that category is of qualified engineers leaving to join the Hong Kong government, because salaries have apparently increased substantially there and are in many cases higher than the private sector can pay.
I imagine you are aware of this kind of background in any case but, nevertheless, it may be a little bit of useful extra feedback.
With kind regards.
Yours sincerely
Домаши наши
Richard Haryott
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