TNAG-2007-FCO40-2855-Address-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--at-the-o-1990 — Page 86

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 27110OZ FCO TELNO 2874

OF 271005Z SEPTEMBER 90

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR PAUL FROM GOVERNOR

PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

MIPT: ADDRESS TO LEGCO: 10 OCTOBER: EMIGRATION AND THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME.

BEGINS:

21. HOWEVER SMOOTH WE CAN MANAGE TO MAKE THE TRANSITION TO HONG KONG'S NEW STATUS IN 1997, THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE THOSE WHO FEEL THE NEED TO SEEK STRONGER PERSONAL SAFEGUARDS FOR THE FUTURE. LAST YEAR, I NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SURGE IN APPLICATIONS FOR EMIGRATION. THIS YEAR, ABOUT 62,000 PEOPLE MAY EMIGRATE: THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR MANY YEARS. 25 PERCENT OF THESE ARE LIKELY TO BE PROFESSIONALS, MANAGERS, TECHNICIANS, BUSINESSMEN AND OTHER KEY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

22. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, I WELCOME THE ENACTMENT OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) ACT, WHICH PROVIDES FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP, AND RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, FOR UP TO 50,000 HONG KONG FAMILIES. WE INTEND TO INVITE APPLICATIONS UNDER THIS SCHEME FROM 1 DECEMBER. IT BEARS REPEATING THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ACT IS TO GIVE THOSE SELECTED THE CONFIDENCE TO STAY IN HONG KONG UP TO AND BEYOND 1997. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HONG KONG WILL BENEFIT FROM THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE WHOM THIS SCHEME AND SIMILAR SCHEMES INTRODUCED BY OTHER COUNTRIES, WILL KEEP IN THE TERRITORY.

23. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE WHAT IT CAN TO MEET THE ANXIETIES OF THOSE WHO, OFTEN RELUCTANTLY, HAVE CONSIDERED LEAVING HONG KONG. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN STEPS TO REMOVE THE DISINCENTIVES FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO RETURN. BUT I SHOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR PRIMARY CONCERN NOW MUST BE WITH THOSE WHO WILL STAY HERE PERMANENTLY THE REAL HONG KONG BELONGERS. I

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