TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 226

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package has been generally positive.

OMELCO has said publicly that

the package will be a helpful contribution towards slowing down the

brain drain and have expressed confidence that those who receive

passports will have the peace of mind to remain in Hong Kong and

contribute to Hong Kong's future. People from the business sector have also said that the scheme will help to anchor key people in

Hong Kong. A number of recent surveys by professional bodies in

Hong Kong show that the majority of those currently planning to

emigrate would stay in Hong Kong if granted British citizenship

under the scheme. For example, 35% of chartered surveyors, 88% of

government doctors and 80% of civil engineers have said that they

would change their plans to leave Hong Kong if granted British citizenship.

23. The Committee recommended that the Government should take the

lead at the earliest opportunity in mobilising international support

for Hong Kong (paragraph 4.15). The Government have taken every

available opportunity to raise this issue with their partners in the

European Community and the Commonwealth, with the United States and

with a number of other countries. The Government have made clear

that Hong Kong is an international centre, with huge international

investment and its major trading partners have a strong interest in

its continuing stability and prosperity. Some countries, of their

own volition, have already found ways to give Hong Kong people

assurances without their having to leave the territory and the

Government have encouraged others to do so. Singapore has already

introduced a scheme to give permanent residence status to up to 25,000 blue collar workers and their families without requiring them

to leave Hong Kong for a number of years. Within the European

Community, France, Belgium and Luxembourg have implemented schemes

to provide the right of entry to employees of French, Belgian and

Luxembourg companies and their families. The Federal Republic of

Germany is finalising a scheme of broadly the same nature. The

possibility of new immigration arrangements for Hong Kong is under

consideration by the US Administration and there have been

expressions of support in the US Congress, including a proposal that

the immigration quota from Hong Kong should be increased to 20,000 a

CATAAU (10)

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