TNAG-0321-FCO40-357-Effect-of-1971-UK-Immigration-Bill-on-entry-of-Chinese-from--1971 — Page 20

CONFIDENTIAL

3. WE TAKE THE POINT IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 5 THAT THERE IS AN

APPARENT ANOMALY BETWEEN THE TREATMENT OF ALIEN RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG AND UNITED KINGDOM CITIZENS. HOWEVER, FOR YOU CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IT IS MINISTER'S INTENTION TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF WORK PERMITS AVAILABLE TO ALIEN WORKERS, FROM ALL COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE UNSKILLED AND SEMI-SKILLED CATEGORIES. THE DETAILS OF THIS REDUCTION HAVE NOT YET BEEN DECIDED, BUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE LATER THIS SUMMER. I REALISE THAT THIS MAY ALSO HAVE ITS PROBLEMS FOR YOU, BUT IT

SHOULD AT LEAST REMOVE THIS ANOMALY.

4. I REALISE HOW UNWELCOME THIS NEWS WILL BE TO YOU, AND I REGRET THAT WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO MORE TO HELP BUT WE MUST ASK YOU TO ACCEPT THE SITUATION IN THE OVERALL CONTEXT OF THE REDUCTION IN IMMIGRATION INTO THIS COUNTRY WHICH THE IMMIGRATION BILL IS

INTENDED TO BRING ABOUT.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

M & VO

HKD

FED

SIR L MONSON

SIR S TOMLINSON

MR G P SCOTT

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