TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 29

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(a)

reducing the incentive to depart by improving the quality of life in Hong Kong;

(b)

making it easier for emigrants to return if they wish (eg. establishing more international schools);

(c)

by

measures to increase the supply of skilled manpower to fill the gaps left by those who have left (ie. more tertiary education);

(d) a miscellany of short term measures that could be implemented by government or the private sector, designed to alleviate the effects of emigration or encourage emigrants to return.

Conclusions

6. The findings of the task force confirm the widespread view that emigration, particularly among the professional classes, has increased sharply in the past two years. What cannot of course be predicted is whether the upwardtrend will continue at the same rate

as the past two years, or whether it will begin to level out. That will depend on factors very largely beyond the Government's control, notably local confidence, perceptions of the future and the immigration policies of the main destination countries.

remedies as are within the power of the Government are comprehensively listed: it will be important to ensure that what can be done is done quickly. For if net emigration levels continue to increase in line with recent trends, the effects on Hong Kong could become serious and the pressure on the Hong Kong Government (and at one remove on HMG) will grow. This is a subject which we must continue to monitor carefully.

But such

CONFIDENTIAL

стови

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