WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989
"AN EMPLOYER WHO IS UNABLE TO FILL A PROFESSIONAL VACANCY LOCALLY WILL BE WELCOME TO RECRUIT FROM OUTSIDE HONG KONG. ONCE HE IS ABLE TO SATISFY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION THAT HIS RECRUIT IS PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED AND WILL BE PAID GOING WAGES. AN EMPLOYMENT VISA WILL BE ISSUED PROMPTLY,
PROSPECTIVE HONG KONG
"I ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYERS TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THIS SIR DAVID SAID.
FACILITY.
POSITION ON NATIONALITY ISSUE UNCHANGED
THE
TO
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD. SAID IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY} THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE HAS NOT CHANGED AND IT CONTINUES BELIEVE THAT RESTORING THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK FOR HONG KONG BRITISH NATIONALS WOULD PROVIDE A BROAD BASE FOR REBUILDING CONFIDENCE.
LOCAL
SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NATURALLY DISAPPOINTED BY MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IN UK POLITICAL TERMS FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO GRANT SUCH A RIGHT TO ALL BRITISH NATIONALS IN HONG KONG.
"BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS LIKELY BE A LIMITED SCHEME BASED ON CITIZENSHIP WHICH WILL NOT REQUIRE A BENEFICIARY TO LEAVE HONG KONG TO OBTAIN HIS RIGHT OF ABODE IN UK.
"WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT SUCH A SCHEME IS BETTER THAN NO SCHEME AT ALL AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DEEN CONSIDERING HOW A GOOD MEASURE OF LOCAL CONFIDENCE COULD BE RESTORED WITHIN SUCI A PACKAGE.
"WE BELIEVE THAT. GIVEN MORE WORK HERE AND IN LONDON. THERE IS ADVANTAGE IN ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THIS SCHEME WITH THE OBJECTIVE. AS YOU SIR SAID IN YOUR ADDRESS, OF TRYING TO ENSURE THAT IT IS AS GENEROUS AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT IT IS TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE TAILORED TO HONG KONG'S NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.' HE SAID.
H
IN SELECTING LIKELY BENEFICIARIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAD SUGGESTED TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT THE SCHEME SHOULD TARGET THOSE OCCUPATIONS IN HONG KONG WHICH WERE MOST VULNERABLE TO SERIOUS DEPLETION THROUGH EMIGRATION, AND THOSE WHICH WERE LIKELY TO B.E PUT UNDER PARTICULAR PRESSURE ARISING FROM THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY.
"A HIGH PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THOSE OCCUPATIONS IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY EXPENSIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING TO REPLENISH. THE SCHEME SHOULD HAVE SPECIAL REGARD FOR THE DEPENDANTS OF THE PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARIES," HE SAID.
/SIR DAVID