Points to Make
CONFIDENTIAL
UK already working urgently on a scheme to give assurance of right
of abode in UK to key people in both the private and public sectors. The aim is to give people whose professional, administrative,
technical and managerial skills are essential for the continued
success of Hong Kong the confidence to remain in the territory.
Hope to be in a position to announce details of scheme around turn
of the year.
UK obviously has primary responsibility to take the lead on this issue. But other countries with important strategic interest in the
region could also play helpful role in maintaining confidence of Hong Kong people in their future by allowing Hong Kong people to become eligible for permanent residence in their countries without
being obliged to leave Hong Kong to qualify for that right.
If such a multinational insurance policy could be established, it
would give Hong Kong people confidence to remain in territory, where most of them would like to stay, knowing that if worst came to worst, they would have the opportunity to relocate.
Some people have argued that it might also give Chinese authorities greater incentive to take account of concerns of Hong
Kong people in the knowledge that if they failed to fulfil their commitments under the Joint Declaration, many of Hong Kong's key
people would leave territory after 1997.
Welcome the measures already taken by France and Singapore to give
the assurance of right of abode to some Hong Kong people without requiring them to leave the territory. France has already given passports to some 80 employees of French firms and is now planning to take further measures to benefit a wider range of key staff.
Understand that Belgium is also considering a scheme to provide
permanent residence permits for employees of Belgian companies in
Hong Kong.
KI PAAU
CONFIDENTIAL
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