XN000022-1989-12-21 — Page 4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1989

"WE INTEND TO INTRODUCE THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR THE GRANT OF CITIZENSHIP ΤΟ BENEFLOTARIES UNDER THE SCHEME IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

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ALTHOUGH THIS IS A BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY, AND ONE WHICH WE DON'T SHIRL, HONG KONG IS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, WITH HUGE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT. ITS MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS HAVE

STRONG INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. SOME COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY FOUND WAYS TO GIVE HONG KONG PEOPLE ASSURANCES WITHOUT THEIR HAVING TO LEAVE HONG KONG. IT IS CLEARLY FOR US TO TAKE THE LEAD, AND I HAVE SET OUT OUR SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS.

NOW BE ASKING OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES TO FOLLOW THIS LEAD.

WE SHALL

"I EMPHASISE TWO FINAL POINTS. FIRST, OUR PROPOSALS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO HONG KONG AND THE UNIQUE PROBLEM WHICH WE FACE THERE. THEY WILL HAVE NO RELEVANCE TO OTHER PEOPLE ELSEWHERE, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE 1981 BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT WILL REMAIN INTACT. SECOND, THEY ARE DESIGNED NOT TO ENCOURAGE IMMIGRATION INTO THIS COUNTRY BUT TO PERSUADE TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG THOSE WHOM WE NEED TO RETAIN THERE IF OUR LAST SUBSTANTIAL COLONY IS TO PASS SUCCESSFULLY THROUGH THE FINAL EIGHT YEARS OF BRITISH RULE."

:

NATIONALITY PACKAGE

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A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN THIS MORNING WELCOMED THE MR ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, DOUGLAS HURD, IN PARLIAMENT.

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"THIS BRINGS TO AN END A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY AND SPECULATION IN THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

HELP 'WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL TO REESTABLISH CONFIDENCE AND STABILITY THE FACT THAT FULL PASSPORTS ARE BEING OFFERED RATHER THAN CERTIFICATES OF ENTRY IS AN IMPORTANT

BECAUSE POINT

1 T PROVIDES GREATER CERTAINTY AND INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT RECIPIENTS WILL STAY IN HONG KONG.

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THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PACKAGE WOULD ALLOW FOR 225,000 PEOPLE TO BENEFIT.

HE

"THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD COVER 50,000 HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD,

WOULD SAID. "THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE NUMBER OF TALENTED PEOPLE WHO DEPART HONG KONG OVER A 4-5 YEAR PERIOD AT CURRENT RATES OF

EMIGRATION."

AND

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AT THE MOMENT MANY PEOPLE FEEL COMPELLED TO UPROOT THEMSELVES THEIR FAMILIES SIMPLY IN ORDER TO SATISFY RESIDENCR REQUIREMENTS

AUSTRALIA AND IN CANADA,

*THE UNITED STATES, FITE SAID. "A VERY NUMBER OF THEM WILL NOW NOT HAVE TO LEAVE HONG KONG TO SECURE THE INSURANCE WHICH A PASSPORT PROVIDES.“

SUBSTANTIAL

/THE SPOKESMAN