PUS' LUNCHEON WITH ICI: 2 DECEMBER
HONG KONG
1.
ICI supported the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act
1990 (BNHKA) from the beginning, and lobbied the Governor
about their Hong Kong personnel in April 1991. But they were dismayed that the Approved Secondment Scheme (ASS) was not
included in the Act. This scheme would have enabled
companies to second their key staff to the UK for two years which, with a further three years working for the firm in
Hong Kong, would have led to naturalisation as a British
citizen. If raised, the line is:
-
ASS not needed, because points available to employees of British firms in Hong Kong will give them advantage over equally qualified applicants from non-British companies.
If
- But the Selection Scheme will be kept under review. it seems British firms need more help, the Home Office will consider what form this might take.
2.
The press have suggested that the Selection Scheme is behind schedule. If ICI ask, the PUS might say:
The scheme has successfully targetted the key people as intended. Over 3600 beneficiaries have so far been registered from all four classes of the scheme.
-
Initial delays were inevitable because of statutory need to process all 66,000 applications before anyone could be registered, and the need to interview all potentially qualified candidates. The flow of registrations should soon
accelerate.
(if pressed) Hong Kong Government are looking at ways of speeding up procedures.
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