TNAG-2171-FCO40-3108-Special-quota-of-work-permits-for-the-Dependent-Territories-1990 — Page 14

213/1

·HK2 2/3

RECY50/216

DEC 1990

EMPLOYMENT SECRETARY

DESK OFFICE

INDEX

PA

Ry7/~ Miop Marsden Mr Mochest/12 Mr Hague /02

pă.

J

W2/12

MR PAUL HKQ

PS

19

Pollard Cardness Mr Mclaren Mr Burns Mr Gorham, WIAD Mr Baker-Bates,

SAAD

9/12.

1.

Dependent Territories Quota

Thank you for your letter of 26 November to

David Waddington.

2.

The announcement of the abolition of the quota for Hong Kong will be received with disappointment in the territory and particularly by the local Hong Kong Chinese

community in this country. But this should be

manageable.

3.

As for the answer to the PQ announcing the scheme, I enclose a revised draft which omits any reference to the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act. The point is that

the Act is not a substitute for the Work Permit Quota since the two schemes have entirely different objectives and cater for distinct groups of people. So in a strict sense the introduction of one does not justify the

abolition of the other. The Governor of Hong Kong is

also strongly of this view.

the

I am copying this minute to members of OPD(K), Chief Whip, Sir Percy Cradock and to Sir Robin Butler.

•

(DOU

of

AS HURD)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

6 December 1990