TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 40

S.P.O. Box 2790

TELEPHONE: 5-255044

FAX NO.: 5-8452915

12 September 1988

Mr R D Clift

Political Adviser

3/F Main Wing

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нко 341

Central Government Offices

HONG KONG

Dear Dick,

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NEW ZEALAND COMMISSION

3414 CONNAUGHT CENTRE

HONG KONG

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Chamiry Welling m

APH дрић нес

You asked me last week about a recent item in 'The Times' attributing to Mr Lange a move to encourage up to a thousand Hong Kong businessmen to emigrate to New Zealand over the next year.

The report was, in fact, in the Times' "gossip column'

of 2 September

rather than а substantive news item. I enclose a copy. Gossip sums it up. The item is not based on fact. The Prime Minister has made no statement about the appointment, or the implications of it, of an Immigration Second Secretary to the New Zealand Commission in Hong Kong. Nor has any other Minister.

As you know from discussions we have had on the '1997 Brain Drain' over recent months, the New Zealand Government is fully aware that the departure of SO many professional people is a serious issue for Hong Kong and, also, sensitive politically. Members of the Executive Council have registered this with New Zealand Ministers and with me. The implementation of New Zealand's immigration policy in Hong Kong is handled accordingly. The Commission does not encourage Hong Kong people to emigrate to New Zealand.

RTHK picked up the Times' item and interviewed me about New Zealand's immigration policies on 'Hong Kong Today' last Wednesday. I enclose a transcript of my remarks. It has been sent to Wellington and to London and accurately reflects the Government's policy and approach to profes- sionals seeking to emigrate from Hong Kong to New Zealand.

Yours sincerely

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lick Burege

(N Bridge)

Encs

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