TNAG-1892-FCO40-2685-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 69

NLSAAL (7)

UNDERTAKINGS SCHEME

Home Secretary does have discretion in certain limited cases to

grant certain rights of admission for Crown Servants.

WHAT WILL BE DONE FOR KEY BUSINESSMEN AND PROFESSIONALS

Clearly a particularly important group which is vital to Hong

Kong's continuing success. These are the people whose talents are

most in demand elsewhere and who are emigrating. Precisely this problem that our nationality scheme is intended to address.

INTERNATIONAL SOLUTION HMG SHOULD MOBILISE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

(FAC RECOMMENDATION)

there

We recognise that the people of Hong Kong need to be given the

strongest possible assurance that, should the worst occur,

would be help for those in need of a home of last resort.

In such circumstances, we would mobilise the international

community to help us if the numbers leaving Hong Kong were larger

than we could cope with alone.

We have already raised the matter on a number of occasions,

including the Madrid European Council and the Paris Economic Summit,

as well as in bilateral contacts.

I also raised it with colleagues at the recent Commonwealth

Heads of Government Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

EC ASPECTS

Right of abode in the UK would not in itself allow Hong Kong

people to settle elsewhere in the EC whether before or after 1992.

But true that once they have been granted British citizenship,

they would then be free to work and settle in other EC countries.