TNAG-1665-FCO40-2314-Hong-Kong-employment-issues-and-ordinances-foreign-domestic-1987 — Page 111

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86 15:11

DEEN ANNS GATE R.777

PAGE.02

MINIS

TER OF

STATE

Our Ref: IMG/85 13/57/1

HKK 213/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTEY

| 5 DEC 1986

DESK O. #CEG

INDEX

ARIS

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

LONDON SWIH 9AT

21 NOV 1986

2

A

Johan

ake

Thank you for your letter of 27 October about the Dependent Territories Work Permit Quota in 1987.

I am sorry that we have been unable to make any progress with the review of this scheme but as you will appreciate there have been considerable demands and pressures on the Immigration Department. In the circumstances I am prepared to agree that the quota should continue unchanged in 1987 and I am content with your draft arranged Question and Answer.

I am afraid I cannot agree that the quota should be exceeded if you receive more than 150 eligible applications for Hong Kongers on 1 January. The whole purpose of the quota is to limit the number of permits which may be issued. I do not think administrative

The fair way of dealing difficulties justify exceeding that limit.

It may

with a large number of applications would seem to be to grant permits in the order in which they actually arrive in the Department. As you know, we wish to review the scheme because we consider it inconsistent with our overall immigration policy to allow in unskilled labour for the kitchens of Chinese restaurants. well be that the restaurants would find resident labour more expensive but as SCORRI pointed out in their report on the Chinese community in Britain, staff shortages might well result in improvements in conditions. If this happened people already here might take the jobs. I cannot agree that, pending the review, we can set aside the quota administratively.

H

(DAVID WADDINGTON)

hcc: Mr Fittall

Miss Stewal

Mr Hyde

Mr Morris

Mr Flesher Mr Fries