TNAG-2047-FCO40-2917-Visits-by-staff-of-the-Department-of-Trade-and-Industry-to-H-1990 — Page 166

hold a BN (0) passport.

Assurances Scheme

4.

Confidence in Hong Kong was shaken by the events in

China in June 1989. On 20 December the Foreign Secretary

announced the Government's intention in introduce a

assurance scheme and they on 4 April introduced the British

Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill designed to give British citizenship to 50,000 people their spouses and children

under 18 in private and public sectors on the basis of value of service to Hong Kong as well as connections with Britain.

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.

5. The Bill received Royal Assent on 27 July. The details

of the selection scheme to identify principal beneficiaries

under the Bill will be set out in an Order in Council which

will be laid before Parliament in the Autumn.

6. Mr Dell may wish to be aware that one of the issues in

the Selection scheme which has attracted considerable

interest is the points available for service with a British

firm. The principle that employees of British firms should enjoy a degree of preference in this way is controversial in

Hong Kong. The task of defining the criteria for what

constitutes a "British firm" for the purposes of the scheme

is a tricky one. Officials are still working on it and Ministers are aiming to ensure that we come up with a

definition which is both fair and objective and in line with

the overall objectives of the Bill.

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