B.
Proposals not requiring amendment of the Order
10. Hong Kong propose that the second phase of the Scheme be the
last and that an announcement be made to this effect in due
course. They argue that there are too few places left to warrant further phases; that there would be too little time left for
another phase after the second tranche applications had been
processed; and that few people would leave it so late to emigrate
if they have that intention and have not by early 1996 secured
an insurance policy.
11. They do not see any need to alter the composition of the
General Occupational Class for the second tranche except that I they would like to include "librarians and related professionals" amongst the "Information Science professionals". Librarians,
curators and archivists are a section of the workforce with a
high emigration rate. Hong Kong argue that their service is of
high value and that they cannot easily be replaced. They do much
to improve the population's literacy, knowledge and general
quality and the rapid expansion of tertiary education in Hong
Kong has resulted in great demand for library services. They
could be counted as part of the "Information Science professionals"
group without amending the Order.
announcement about their inclusion would be made in Hong Kong in
the run up to the second tranche.
12.
An
Finally Hong Kong will wish to make it clear to potential
have applied to applicants under the second tranche that they need to be BDTCS before they apply. The application period will be the three
months commencing 3 January 1994. They intend, in order to allow
time for BDTC status to be aquired before then, to set a cut off
date (made by direction of the Secretary of State) tied in with the passage of the amendment Order. They would publicise in advance that such a cut off date would come into force providing
the Order was approved by Parliament.