COPY
Conservatives Abroad
PLEASE ADDRESS ANY REPLY TO GPO BOX 13137, HONG KONG
15 March 1990
The House of Commons
Westminster
London SW1
UNITED KINGDOM
Our Ref:
PBP/CA
HONG KONG 'RIGHT OF ABODE' PACKAGE
I enclose for your attention our commentary on the UK Government's proposals to grant full British citizenship to up to 50,000 heads of households in Hong Kong before 1997. The proposals were debated amongst Conservatives Abroad (Hong Kong) in January, and received. overwhelming endorsement from the members present. We therefore very much hope you will vote in favour of the proposals when they are put through the legislative process.
I personally believe that the proposals are imaginative, and will achieve significant success in stemming the brain drain of talent from Hong Kong, and thus contribute to the continued prosperity and stability of Hong Kong to which the Government is pledged. I know of people who are now deciding to stay in Hong Kong, and not migrate, following the Government's announcement.
From the UK's point of view, the downside is far less than opponent of the Government policy portray. Britain has, and should rightly retain, control over the selection process, and this control allows it to select people of very high quality whose presence in the UK, should that even eventuate, would enhance the country and its
economy.
If our commentary is too long for you to give it your full attention, I should like to draw your particular attention to the final paragraph on page 3, where we repeat our case for the relaxation of the British citizenship rules for Hong Kong Chinese spouses of British citizens in Hong Kong. This is a matter of
UNITED KINGDOM CONSERVATIVES ABROAD (HONG KONG) Registered Office: 12th Floor, 11 Duddell Street, Hong Kong.
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