TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 118

UNCLASSIFIED

013500

MDLIAN 76

ORDER-IN-COUNCIL CONTAINING THE POINTS SYSTEM UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE. THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (24.10) REPORTED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, DONALD TSANG, QUOTING PARAGRAPHS 158 AND 159 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, SAID THAT A COMPLETE LIST OF THE BRITISH SUBJECTS WOULD BE RETAINED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND PASSED ON TO THE SAR GOVERNMENT. THIS RAISED DOUBTS AS TO THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE PACKAGE. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, REGINA IP, HOWEVER, MADE IT CLEAR THAT ACCORDING TO EXISTING IMMIGRATION MEASURES, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WOULD BE UNABLE TO HAVE RELIABLE STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN HONG KONG, AS THEY REQUIRED NO VISA DOCUMENTS TO ENTER THE TERRITORY. MRS IP POINTED OUT THAT UNLESS A BENEFICIARY DISCLOSED THAT HE GOT BRITISH CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE SCHEME, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT MIGHT NEVER KNOW HOW HE HAD OBTAINED THE STATUS.

U.S. IMMIGRATION BILL

15. THE MEDIA REPORTED THAT THE U.S. IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO AWAIT PRESIDENT BUSH'S SIGNATURE. THE REPORTS NOTED THAT THE BILL WOULD RAISE THE ANNUAL IMMIGRATION QUOTA FOR HONG KONG FROM THE EXISTING 5,000 TO 10,000 FROM 1991 TO 1993 AND TO 27,000 IN 1994. THE BILL WOULD ALSO PROVIDE FOR SPECIAL VISAS TO BE GRANTED TO 36,000 LOCAL EMPLOYEES OF AMERICAN FIRMS IN THE TERRITORY OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (29.10) NOTED THAT A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WELCOMED THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL, SAYING THAT ANY IMMIGRATION SCHEME THAT GAVE HONG KONG PEOPLE THE RIGHT OF ABODE WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE WAS WELCOME.

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION RULES

16. BOTH THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL AND MING PAO (28.10) REPORTED THAT THE NEW DEFINITION OF FAMILY MEMBERS UNDER THE NEW CANADIAN IMMIGRATION POLICY WAS RATHER VAGUE AND WOULD CAUSE CHAOS DURING THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES.

HUNGARY

17. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (28.10) SAID THAT A LITTLE-KNOWN CANADIAN ENTREPRENEUR, GEORGE BOROS, WAS TRYING TO LURE WEALTHY HONG KONG PEOPLE TO INVEST IN HUNGARY IN RETURN FOR PASSPORTS. UNDER HIS SCHEME, A MINIMUM INVESTMENT OF U.S. DOLLARS 100,000 WAS REQUIRED FOR EACH HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD AND U.S. DOLLARS 180,000 FOR EACH DIRECT FAMILY MEMBER.

WILSON

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