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DRAFT LETTER FOR SIGNATURE BY MR MAWER
C D Powell Esq
10 Downing Street
HONG KONG : TRADE AND INVESTMENT
Knowing that the Prime Minister is to see the Governor of Hong Kong tomorrow, this records the Home Secretary's first reactions to Lord Young's minute of 16 February.
As the Home Secretary's letter of 25 January to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary explained, he is very willing to consider exercising his discretion under the Immigration Rules and the British Nationality Act 1981 generously. He would, accordingly, be, in principle, very glad to see his existing proposals take their place in the context of the sort of investment initiative Lord Young has in mind. He thinks, however, that we would need to have more evidence, than appears available at present, that attempts to attract investment were failing for nationality specific reasons before the Government looked again at the changes to the nationality law that Lord Young envisages, and which, so far, have been rejected.
I am copying this letter to Bob Peirce (FCO) and to Trevor Woolley (Cabinet Office).
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