CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2284
OF 29170OZ NOVEMBER 90
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP CUP
Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
10
Dr
Maris
(15
145606
MDHOAN 2611
нко 213,
! RECEIVED IN BEGÍSTRy
SONOV 1990
DESK LICEN
INDEX
OUR TELNO 601′: DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WORK PERMIT QUOTA
1. YOU WILL RECALL THAT MINISTERS DECIDED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT THE 1990 QUOTA FOR HONG KONG WOULD BE THE LAST AND THAT A FURTHER STATEMENT WOULD BE MADE LATER IN THE YEAR AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE NATIONALITY BILL.
2. THE EMPLOYMENT SECRETARY HAS NOW WRITTEN TO COLLEAGUES PROPOSING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EARLIER MINISTERIAL DECISION, THE FOLLOWING DRAFT REPLY FOR AN INSPIRED WRITTEN PQ:
'IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A QUOTA FOR 1991 OF 50 FOR USE BY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES OTHER THAN HONG KONG. THE ARRANGEMENTS TO GRANT BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR 50,000 FAMILIES FROM HONG KONG REMOVE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR A SPECIAL ALLOCATION OF WORK PERMITS UNDER THE QUOTA FOR THAT TERRITORY."
3. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU WOULD BE PREPARED, ABLEIT RELUCTANTLY, TO ACQUIESCE IN THE DECISION TO END THE QUOTA FOR HONG KONG. I ASSUME THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD GO DOWN BADLY IN HONG KONG, BUT THAT THIS WOULD BE MANAGEABLE. (WE ARE LIKELY TO COME IN FOR GREATER FLAK AT THIS END, FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHINESE CATERING INDUSTRY.)
4.
AS FOR THE ANSWER TO THE PQ, I THINK IT IS NOT QUITE RIGHT TO SUGGEST THAT THE NATIONALITY ACT REMOVES THE 'JUSTIFICATION' FOR THE QUOTA. AS YOU POINTED OUT IN AN EARLIER TELEGRAM, THE SCHEMES HAVE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES. THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE QUOTA ARE NOT THE SORT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ACT. I PROPOSE THAT THE DRAFT PQ SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS:
'IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A QUOTA FOR 1991 OF 50 FOR USE BY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES OTHER THAN HONG KONG. THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) ACT PROVIDES FOR THE GRANTING OF
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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