TNAG-1194-FCO40-1496-UK-immigration-rules-affecting-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 23

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THESE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE LAYING OF A STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN

THE IMMIGRATION RULES (WHICH WILL BECOME THE NEW RULES THEMSELVES)

IN EARLY DECEMBER TO TAKE EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY. IF THE

OPPOSITION TABLE A RESOLUTION TO DISAPPROVE THE STATEMENT OF

CHANGES, THERE WILL BE FURTHER DEBATES, BUT THESE MAY NOT TAKE

PLACE UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. THE NEW RULES WILL HAVE TAKEN EFFECT

NONETHELESS.

LINE TO TAKE

4. THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON IMMIGRATION.

IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO RESTRICT PRIMARY IMMIGRATION

(THAT IS THE ADMISSION FOR SETTLEMENT OF HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD IN

THEIR OWN RIGHT) AS TIGHTLY AS IS CONSISTENT WITH HUMANITY AND

THE COUNTRY'S NEED FOR SCARCE SKILLS. THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION

OF WEAKENING SUCH A POLICY AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY AND

HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.

5. WHEN THE RULES WERE CHANGED IN 1980 TO LIMIT MALE IMMIGRATION,

THERE WAS NO SATISFACTORY DEFINITION IN NATIONALITY LAW OF WHO HAD

A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM. NOW THAT THERE WILL,

FOR THE FIRST TIME, BE SUCH A DEFINITION IN NATIONALITY LAW,

BASED UPON THE CONCEPT OF CONNEXION SPECIFICALLY WITH THE

UNITED KINGDOM, THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW IS THAT WOMEN WHO HAVE THIS

CLOSE CONNEXION OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE WITH A HUSBAND FROM

OVERSEAS. (YOU SHOULD NOT SPECULATE ON THE LIKELY INCREASE IN

ADMISSIONS THAT MAY ARISE FROM THIS CHANGE).

6.

(IF ASKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TREATMENT OF THE SEXES).

WOMEN SETTLED HERE WHO DO NOT BECOME BRITISH CITIZENS DO NOT

HAVE THE SAME DEGREE OF CONNEXION OR COMMITMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT

CANNOT SEE ITS WAY TO BREACHING THE PRINCIPLE OF STRICT RESTRAINT

ON PRIMARY IMMIGRATION ON THEIR BEHALF. IT IS TRUE THAT THIS

PLACES THE TWO SEXES ON A DIFFERENT FOOTING AS ALL MEN SETTLED HERE, REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY OR CITIZENSHIP, MAY BE JOINED BY A WIFE OR FIANCEE: BUT THIS DOES NOT REPRESENT PRIMARY

IMMIGRATION. IT IS STILL VALID TO REGARD MEN PREDOMINANTLY AS

BREAD-WINNERS AND WOMEN PREDOMINANTLY AS DEPENDANTS.

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