TNAG-2158-FCO40-3078-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-Chinese-views-1990 — Page 24

CONFIDENTIAL

127707

MDHOAN 5928

92:

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 28010OZ PEKING

TELNO 274

OF 27140OZ MARCH 90

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

HKC340/1

Pa

RECEIVED IN FECERY

30 MAR 1990

NH

28/3

INDEX

PA

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG DESK OFFI:..

FROM HONG KONG DEPARTMENT

YOUR TELNOS 459 AND 465: LORD YOUNG'S MEETINGS WITH LI RUIHUAN AND LI PENG: NATIONALITY SCHEME

1.

WE NOTICE THAT IN THE COURSE OF THESE MEETINGS, LORD YOUNG STATED THAT BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE SCHEME WOULD NEED TO MEET A RESIDENCE QUALIFICATION BY QUOTE STAYING IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS UNQUOTE. THIS IS OF COURSE INCORRECT. THERE IS NO SUCH CONDITION ATTACHED TO THE SCHEME.

2. WE SUGGEST THAT WHEN YOU TAKE ACTION TO BRIEF THE CHINESE ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE ON 28 MARCH, YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. ALTERNATIVELY YOU MIGHT SPEAK TO JIANG ENZHU WHO WAS PRESENT AT BOTH MEETINGS. 3. YOU MIGHT SAY THAT WHILST LORD YOUNG'S COMMENTS ON THE CONTENT AND INTENTION OF NATIONALITY PACKAGE WERE CORRECT IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS, THERE WAS ONE POINT OF DETAIL WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN MISLEADING. THERE IS NO (NO) FOUR YEAR RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT IN HONG KONG UNDER THE PACKAGE. CITIZENSHIP WILL BE AVAILABLE TO KEY HONG KONG PEOPLE (A) WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO LEAVE THE TERRITORY AND (B) WITHOUT HAVING TO FULFIL ANY SPECIFIC PERIOD OF RESIDENCE (ALTHOUGH THE SCHEME WILL ONLY BE FOR PERSONS NORMALLY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG).

4. (FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION ONLY). WE THINK THAT LORD YOUNG MAY HAVE HAD IN MIND THE APPROVED SECONDMENT SCHEME WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCED ON 20 DECEMBER AS A SMALL PART OF THE OVERALL PACKAGE. IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT UNDER THIS SCHEME EMPLOYEES OF COMPANIES IN HONG KONG COULD ACHIEVE CITIZENSHIP BY A COMBINATION OF RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND IN THE UK CON SECONDMENT TO A COMPANY OR TRAINING INSTITUTION). MINISTERS ARE STILL CONSIDERING WHETHER TO INTRODUCE SUCH A SCHEME OR NOT: IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT IT WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE BILL ALTHOUGH IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER A WAY CAN BE FOUND TO ACHIEVE A SCHEME OF COMPARABLE EFFECT OUTSIDE THE BILL.

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