NATIONALITY
CONFIDENTIAL
What sort of nationality scheme do HMG have in mind? Will scheme
involve candidates having to leave Hong Kong to qualify?
Aim of scheme will be to encourage talented people to remain in
Hong Kong, thus benefiting community as a whole.
Precise form of assurances, criteria on which selection of those
eligible should be based and legislative implications are complex
issues. Must get details right.
What special arrangements will be made for non ethnic Chinese?
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Well aware of concerns of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.
Delegation from Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations recently
called on Foreign and Home Secretaries and myself to explain their
concerns in detail.
But strong assurance already given by Lord Glenarthur in 1986
"We should consider it an obligation upon any future Government
to treat with very considerable and particular sympathy the case for admission to the United Kingdom of any individual British National who, against all our expectations, came under pressure
to leave Hong Kong.
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No question of Government backing away from that commitment.
Price Waterhouse Report [if asked]
Have noted what Report says about effect on Hong Kong of
emigration of talented people. Our proposed assurances scheme
designed to stem such an outflow of talent.
Numbers (Report recommends 315,000): we will be as generous as we
can within political and practical constraints.
WAYAOK ( 4 )
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.