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granted this right would choose to come to
the United Kingdom, but that knowledge of
their right to do so nonetheless would give
people confidence to stay in Hong Kong both
before and after 1997.
(ii)
individual
groups (eg investors
and professionals):
(iii)
Kingdom:
(iv)
media:
from United
Parliament/
it is claimed that United Kingdom is more
stand-offish in offering settlement to
investors in comparison with other countries.
(In fact, UK rules in this area are not
dissimilar to those of others, but the UK is
not in the position of actively encouraging
immigration.
the Prime Minister and Lord Young, among
others, believe that the United Kingdom is
losing out (to countries such as Canada, the
US and Australia) in attracting investors and
entrepreneurs from Hong Kong.
demands/requests for action from individual
MPs, who have been swayed by the arguments
from Hong Kong on the United Kingdom's moral
obligation in this area.
Most of the measures called for would require an amendment to
existing nationality and immigration legislation. Doing so would
involve substantial changes to well-established nationality and
immigration policy and bring the prospect, however remote it now
seems, of large-scale immigration into this country from Hong Kong
in future. Parliamentary and public opinion would seem to be
against any such change.
Introducing such radical changes to HMG's nationality and
immigration policy would also imply that we doubted the Chinese
Government's will or ability to implement the Joint Declaration
fully and properly. That would in itself be a discouraging signal
to people in Hong Kong and to the international community. It would
be very difficult if not impossible, to persuade the Chinese that
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