SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
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PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)
flows of immigrants from China: some 28,000 legal
immigrants and 21,000 illegal ones in 1988). What is
new is the increasing number of qualified professional
people (about 10,000 in 1988) who are leaving Hong Kong,
95% of them for Canada, the United States and Australia,
where there are large and prosperous communities of Hong
Kong Chinese built up over many years and which are
therefore seen as the most desirable emigration
destinations. This trend is manageable at present but is
being carefully monitored. The Hong Kong Government are
taking various steps to contain the effects of
emigration, such as stepping up higher education and
training so that qualified people are available to fill
the gaps left by those who go, and measures to make it
easier for people settled abroad to return to Hong Kong
with their families. We are also making clear that Hong
Kong people are free to leave the territory if they wish.
But we must at the same time be careful to ensure that,
by our own words and actions, we are not seen to be
actively encouraging the flow of talent and capital from
the territory.
NATIONALITY
18.
There is still concern and resentment in Hong Kong
about nationality matters, and in particular about the
fact that holders of Hong Kong British passports do not
have the right of abode in this country. Some people in
the territory and in this country believe that Britain
should open its doors more widely to Hong Kong British
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