TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 137

ment announced on 26 May 1971 a reduction from 8500 to 2700 in

the number of employment vouchers to be issued each year to

Commonwealth citizens and alterations in the categories of

employment and qualifications which would entitle applicants to

vouchers. Previously a total of 600 vouchers had been reserved

each year for the dependent territories - no more than 50 per cent of

which were to be issued to any one territory and the maximum of 300

employment vouchers was consistently taken up by applicants from

Hong Kong. In line with the general reduction in the number of

vouchers available, those allocated for the dependent territories

were reduced from 600 to 400 no more than 50 per cent of which

may go to any one territory. The upper limit is consequently 200

for Hong Kong. Hong Kong will therefore be affected by the overall

reduction in the number of Commonwealth citizens permitted to enter

the United Kingdom for employment.

7. The revised employment voucher scheme aims to concentrate the

intake on persons with skills or professional qualifications to

offer. This principle is not being applied to applications from the

dependent territories. Unskilled and semi skilled workers from

Hong Kong will continue to be accepted.

8 A bone of contention in Hong Kong has been the apparent ease

with which alien Chinese are granted work rermits as compared with

the granting of employment vouchers. These is some justification

for this concern. However, the policy on the intake of alien

workers has been changed and it is Ministers' intention to make a

substantial reduction in the number of work permits available

to unskilled and semi skilled alien workers from all countries.

9. Any of the above information may be used in reply this subject.

any.

to inquiries on

t

Migration & Visa Sept. Jamuan, 1972.