TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 16

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

As the Committee is aware, working as fast as we can on proposals to give assurance of right of abode to limited number of Hong Kong people in public and private sectors.

Aim of proposed scheme: to encourage people in wide range of positions in public and private sectors, whose skills and talents are essential to Hong Kong's continued success, to remain in

territory.

Shall be as generous as we can on numbers within inevitable political and practical constraints

Aware that announcement is awaited anxiously in Hong Kong. Precise form of assurances, criteria on which selection of those eligible should be based and legislative implications are extremely complex issues Giving very careful thought to them. Details of our proposals will be announced as soon as possible.

Hope that package of measures will make appreciable impact on problem of emigration of key people from Hong Kong in search of security of a foreign passport.

(Selective scheme would be divisive)

Scheme will not focus exclusively or particularly on rich or priveleged: important criterion for eligibility will be value of service to Hong Kong. To extent that scheme succeeds in mitigating effects of emigration of talented people from Hong Kong, it should benefit community as whole

CONFIDENTIAL

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.