inte ify our links with potential investors from Hong
Kong, provide a satisfactory basis on which to proceed.
The Foreign Secretary would like to point out that
under our existing rules and procedures some 300 to 350
entrepreneurs come to Britain every year from a variety
of places, including Hong Kong, to set up businesses here
that create jobs. Some of these are small businesses
employing no more than two or three people. But others
are larger in scale: for example, one businessman from
Hong Kong has been recently admitted to this country to
establish a video tape manufacturing plant in
North London; it employs
people. Another
investor from Hong Kong, who has similarly taken
advantage of our flexible rules on entry and resettlement
for investors, has set up a textile garment manufacturing
factory in
employing
people.
Our aim must be to ensure that further productive and
job-creating investment, both from Hong Kong and
elsewhere, is able to take place.
The Foreign Secretary entirely understands the
Prime Minister's concern about the difficulty which
Vietnamese boat people have in finding their feet in this
country. It was for this reason that the proposal in
the joint minute placed emphasis on careful selection of
candidates for resettlement, and enhanced training in
English language and other skills to improve their
ability to adapt and find worthwhile employment here.
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