TNAG-0903-FCO40-1113-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 61

CONFIDENTIAL

I HAVE NOT OVERLOOKED THE FACT THAT SOME GIRLS WILL HAVE BEEN ORN

ABROAD BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS HAPPENED TO BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY (FOR EXAMPLE IN CROWN SERVICE OR BUSINESS) AT THE TIME OF THEIR BIRTH. IT IS MY INTENTION TO CONSIDER SUCH CASES SYMPATHETICALLY FOR FAVOURABLE TREATMENT OUTSIDE THE RULES.

WE UNDERTOOK TO END THE PRACTICE OF ALLOWING PERMANENT SETTLEMENT FOR THOSE WHO COME HERE FOR A TEMPORARY STAY. THE NEW RULES WILL PROVIDE THAT VISITORS AND STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REMAIN FOR ANOTHER TEMPORARY PURPOSE IF THIS CARRIES WITH IT THE PROSPECT OF EVENTUAL SETTLEMENT. VISITORS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TAKING EMPLOYMENT. PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SET UP IN BUSINESS OR TO STAY HERE AS SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS OR AS PERSONS OF INDEPENDENT MEANS WILL HAVE TO MEET STRICTER REQUIREMENTS AND WILL NEED FIRST TO OBTAIN ENTRY CLEARANCE.

WE UNDERTOOK TO LIMIT THE ENTRY OF PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND CHILDREN OVER 18 TO A SMALL NUMBER OF URGENT COMPASSIONATE CASES, CHILDREN AGED 18 OR OVER WILL QUALIFY FOR SETTLEMENT ONLY WHERE

THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE OF THE MOST STRONGLY COMPASSIONATE NATURE, THOUGH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO DAUGHTERS UNDER

21 WHO FORMED PART OF THE FAMILY UNIT OVERSEAS AND HAVE NO OTHER RELATIVE TO WHOM THEY CAN TURN. PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

AGED 65 OR OVER AND WIDOWED MOTHERS ALREADY HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY

ARE WHOLLY DEPENDENT ON CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY WHO CAN SUPPORT

AND ACCOMMODATE THEM. IN FUTURE THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT OTHER RELATIVES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY TO WHOM

THEY CAN TURN AND THAT THEY HAVE A STANDARD OF LIVING SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THAT OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS UNDER 65 WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR ENTRY SAVE IN THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL COMPASSIONATE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE ALSO SAID WE WOULD SEVERELY RESTRICT THE ISSUE OF WORK PERMITS.

THIS IS NOT A MATTER FOR THE IMMIGRATION RULES, BUT MY RT. HON FRIEND THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLOYMENT IS TODAY MAKING A

WRITTEN STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT.

THE WHITE PAPER EXPLAINS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER ON THE

BASIS OF THE PRESENT RULES ALL APPLICATIONS MADE BEFORE TODAY.

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