TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 110

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD 34115

RECEN VREGISTOY

14 JUL 1988

37

053172

MDHIAN 7128

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 14100OZ FCO TELNO 2707

OF 140845Z JULY 88

36

INDI

N

TOP

YOUR TELNO 1868 : EMIGRATION

FORCE.

THE PRESS REPORTS COVER THE FIRST REPORT OF THE TASK THIS REPORT, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED AS IT IS AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT OUTLINES THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON EMIGRATION STATISTICS AND PROJECTS SOME FIGURES ON THE BASIS OF BEST GUESS ESTIMATES WHICH THE REPORT ADMITS REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE REFINEMENT.

2. THE FIGURE FOR NET OUTFLOW IN 1987 WAS 27,000. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE FIGURE FOR 1988 WILL BE HIGHER AND THAT A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THAT NUMBER THAN HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE CASE WILL BE MATRICULANTS AND HOLDERS OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.

3. ALTHOUGH HONG KONG IS CERTAINLY LOSING SOME

EXPERIENCED PEOPLE

TO EMIGRATION, ITS 'REPLENISHMENT' FIGURE THROUGH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IS CONSIDERABLY IN EXCESS OF THE NUMBER LEAVING AND ON THE BASIS OF PROJECTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO.

4. IN THE LIGHT OF THE REPORT HKG IS CONSIDERING STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION AND TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG DOES NOT SUFFER IN THE EVENT OF A PROLONGED HIGH EMIGRATION PATTERN.

5 IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE IN THE DEBATE A FURTHER ASSURANCE

w

COULD BE GIVEN THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE NO STEPS TO LIMIT THE NUMBERS EMIGRATING, OUR POLICY INSTEAD IS TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG AS A STABLE AND PROSPERIOUS PLACE WITH AN ATTRACTIVE AND COMFORTABLE LIFE STYLE.

WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL