TNAG-2179-FCO40-3116-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 23

CONFIDENTIAL

FM CAPE TOWN

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

¡

TELNO 228

OF 260845Z MARCH 90

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

(115)

CONFIDENTIAL

шко 34011

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

27 MAR 1990

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGY

Action Taken

(134

122160

MDHIAN 5854

YOUR TELNO 45: HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT SUMMARY

1. SOUTH AFRICA IS, ALREADY MAKING EFFORTS TO ATTRACT IMMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG PROFESSIONALS AND INVESTORS. WE DO NOT (NOT) RECOMMEND AN

APPROACH OF THE KIND ENVISAGED.

DETAIL

2. THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT IT NEEDS TO ATTRACT INVESTORS/ENTREPRENEURS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE ENGINEERING, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL FIELDS TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH. SOUTH AFRICA WOULD WELCOME IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG IN THESE AREAS. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS HAS TOLD US THAT THE SOUTH AFRICANS HELD A SEMINAR IN HONG KONG TWO WEEKS AGO BUT IT HAD NOT BEE SUCCESSFUL: THE FLARE-UP OF VIOLENCE IN THE SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES HAD WORRIED PEOPLE. ANOTHER REASON FOR ITS LACK OF SUCCESS WAS THAT THE ANC HAD WORKED AGAINST IT: THE ANC ARGUED THAT RATHER THAN BRING IN IMMIGRANTS, SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD TRAIN THE LOCAL POPULATION. THE SOUTH AFRICANS ACCEPT THIS BUT ARGUE THAT THEY NEED QUALIFIED PEOPLE NOW BOTH TO HELP WITH TRAINING AND TO

HELP CREATE JOBS.

3. DESPITE RUMOURS TO THE CONTRARY, SOUTH AFRICA HAS NOT CHANGED ITS IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS IN FAVOUR OF HONG KONG. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL STRESSED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW IMMIGRANTS UNLESS THE PROSEPECTIVE EMPLOYER COULD SHOW WHAT HE WAS ALREADY DOING FOR THE TRAINING OF SOUTH AFRICAS AND ALSO COULD DEMONSTRATE A CLEAR NEED FOR QUALIFIED PEOPLE. ALL PROSEPECTIVE IMMIGRANTS MUST BE QUALIFIED TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, MUST HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORD AND MUST BE FULLY QUALIFIED IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL FIELD. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS THAT THE CABINET HAS APPARTENTLY AGREED TO CREATE NEW RESIDENTIAL AREAS, IF REQUIRED, WHERE APPROPRIATE OBTAINING OF APPROVAL OF THE RELEVANT CITY COUNCIL, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT HONG KONG CITIZENS BY ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE TOGETHER. OTHER TARGET AREAS FOR ATTRACTING IMMIGRANTS ARE THE UK, THE REST OF EUROPE (INCLUDING EAST EUROPE) AND SOUTH KOREA.

4. IN ANSWER TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IN PARAR 4 OF TUR:

1

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CONFIDENTIAL