HKC210/1
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
From The Minister of State
N2
FLEREN 28111
22 November 1988
Mr Moms
10
Lea, John,
Thank you for copying to me your letter of 3 November to Tim Renton about the Dependent Territories Quota.
The political reasons for retaining the quota at its existing level remain valid. I therefore agree with your proposal that the present quota of 200 permits should be carried forward into 1989. I am content with the draft written Parliamentary Question and Answer.
I have read with interest the outcome of the initial phase of the review of the Scheme contained in Tim Renton's letter of 11 December 1987 (which does not appear to have been copied to me at the time but which I have subsequently seen). I welcome his agreement that the quota should continue until 1996. But I also note that he hopes we can look to the abolition of the scheme thereafter. I would prefer not to anticipate what view should be taken at that time. Any decision about the future of the quota would need to take account of political considerations as well as the prevailing conditions in the UK labour market. As far as Hong Kong is concerned, I do not think we should necessarily assume that the political arguments would all point to abolition, even given the territory's change of status. In any case, St Helena, the other main beneficiary identified in Tim Renton's letter, will undoubtedly continue to be a dependent territory after 1997. I would envisage that there would continue to be good political reasons to maintain a quota for this and the other dependent territories concerned.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Tim Renton.
Ус Jama
محدود
fina
THE LORD GLENARTHUR
John Lee Esq MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Department of Employment
Caxton House
Tothill Street
LONDON SW1H 9NS
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