TNAG-0094-FCO40-130-Control-of-immigration-into-UK-from-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 56

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT

2/6/1

COPY NO.

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

CI(67)

8 November, 1967

CABINET

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON COMMONWEALTH

IMMIGRATION

A QUOTA OF EMPLOYMENT VOUCHERS FOR THE

U. K. DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Memorandum by the Secretary of State

for Commonwealth Affairs

At the meeting of the Committee on 26 April 1967 (CI (67) 1st meeting) it was suggested that the Commonwealth Office might wish to press for special employment voucher arrangements for small dependent territories. This possibility has been explored by officials and by the group of Ministers appointed by the Committee and the chief difficulty which such arrangements presented was that the additional vouchers needed. could be obtained only at the expense of other countries, or by an increase in the total number of vouchers. Either course presented considerable difficulties. However, it now seems possible that the additional vouchers can be found through a revision of the whole

voucher scheme.

I therefore propose that a quota of 700 employment vouchers should be allocated for the use of "belongers" to the U.K.

dependent territories.

The Dependent Territories

20

The dependent territories (excluding Mauritius), are all 'small territories' in the sense that they make small immigration

demands on us, except for Hong Kong. I consider that it would be very undesirable for Hong Kong to be excluded from any special arrange- ments. Improved immigration prospects are economically valuable to the villages in the New Territories from which the migrants mainly

derive, while the particular political circumstances of Hong Kong create a special need for us to demonstrate the United Kingdom's interest and responsibility. The scope of this proposal is therefore wider than that originally envisaged by my colleagues, and though the

inclusion of Hong Kong may present administrative difficulties, I am

sure they can be overcome. Mauritius has been excluded in view of

its independence early in 1968. The West Indies Associated States

are not included, as not being dependent territories.

The need for Special Arrangements

3.

The argument for special treatment for the dependent territories is based on economic, political and practical grounds. The economic

/importance

COMPTDEUTTAT.