CONFIDENTIAL
Chevening that with 1997 approaching, Hong Kong in the immigration context was a problem sui generis. Policy options had been
considered. It was clear that Parliament would not agree to a "passports for all" policy which would in theory open the floodgates to 31/4 million Hong Kong Chinese immigrants into the UK. The Prime Minister was to meet the Governor of Hong Kong on 8 June to discuss possible alternative measures eg greater flexibility regarding admission of Crown Servants, admission concessions to businessmen
Concessions such as (investors, managers) and other professionals. these, requiring changes to primary or secondary nationality or immigration legislation, might at least help stem the 'brain drain' from Hong Kong. (In the early/mid 1980s, emigration from Hong Kong had averaged 27,000 pa; in 1987-8 this figure had risen to 40-45,000, most of the exodus being to US, Canada and Australia.) The aim would be to provide the entrepreneurial classes, so essential to Hong Kong's future, with an assurance that as a last resort they were free to settle in the UK. In this way they might be encouraged to remain in Hong Kong. The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee would certainly be recommending change in current immigration regulations for Hong Kong BDTCS, even if they did not come out in favour of 'passports for all'.
20. Mr Moody noted that 80% of Gibraltarians possessed UK citizenship which they saw merely as an insurance policy, most of them remaining in the Territory. Mr Wood, pointed out that in Hong Kong's case far greater numbers were involved. Miss Eddis
observed that WIAD had been taken aback by the report on the
Chevening seminar. Policy-makers should be aware of the likely reaction in the Caribbean DTS to any concession made to BDTC
citizens in Hong Kong. BDTCs in the Caribbean were eagerly awaiting
1997 when Hong Kong would be removed from the equation. Although no
promises had been made by HMG, the territories expected to get more sympathetic treatment once the total number of BDTC dropped below 100,000. Mr January noted that the Chief Minister of Montserrat had
raised this very issue in March, and the Deputy Governor of BVI had
reported on the confusion on UK nationality and passport policy
among inhabitants of that Territory. Mr Turner pointed out that
this problem was not confined to the DTs for which WIAD was
responsible. There were also a few BDTCs in Mauritius.
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