TNAG-2180-FCO40-3117-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 54

CONFIDENTIAL

219

012153

MDLIAN 4933

14

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1280

OF 18110OZ APRIL 90

HKD 34011 нки

RECEIVED IN RE

02 MAY 1990

INDEX

INFO PRIORITY BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON, CANBERRADESK SEA BONN INFO PRIORITY THE HAGUE, LUXEMBURG

PA

HY

Action Taken

204

BRUSSELS TELNO 116 TO YOU: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG

1. THE BELGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL INFORMED THE POLITICAL ADVISER ON 18 APRIL OF THE DETAILS OF THE BELGIAN RIGHT OF ABODE SCHEME REFERRED TO IN TUR. HE ASKED THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THESE DETAILS CONFIDENTIAL. BELGIAN FIRMS HERE WILL BE INFORMED OF THEM BY HIM ON 23 APRIL.

2. THREE CATEGORIES OF PERSON WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN QUOTE ASSURANCE DE SEJOUR PERMANENT UNQUOTE (ASP). THE FIRST CATEGORY WILL BE HONG KONG RESIDENTS WORKING FOR BELGIAN BANKS AND FIRMS IN THE TERRITORY. THE SECOND CATEGORY WILL BE THOSE WHO HAVE A QUOTE PRIVILEGED RELATIONSHIP UNQUOTE WITH THE CONSULATE-GENERAL, I.E. LOCALLY EMPLOYED STAFF. THE THIRD CATEGORY, WHO WILL REQUIRE THE PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION OF THE CONSUL-GENERAL, WILL BE THOSE WITH SPECIAL LINKS WITH BELGIUM, E.G. A HONG KONG BUSINESSMAN WITH EXTENSIVE LINKS WITH COMPANIES IN BELGIUM.

3. THOSE SEEKING AN ASP WILL HAVE TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF THEIR JOB IN HONG KONG AND, IN THE CASE OF THE FIRST CATEGORY, AN ASSURANCE BY THE BELGIAN COMPANY CONCERNED THAT IT WILL PROVIDE A

RECIPIENT OF AN ASP WITH EMPLOYMENT IN BELGIUM. WHEN AN ASP IS GRANTED TO AN INDIVIDUAL, IT WILL ALSO BE GRANTED TO THE SPOUSE AND CHILDREN. IT WILL REMAIN VALID FOR ONE YEAR, BUT WILL BE RENEWED ANNUALLY VIRTUALLY AUTOMATICALLY IF THE CONDITIONS OBTAINING AT THE TIME OF ITS INITIAL ISSUE STILL REMAIN VALID, AND IF THE EMPLOYER IN THE CASE OF THE FIRST CATEGORY RENEWS HIS ASSURANCE.

4. THERE WILL BE NO LIMIT ON NUMBERS. THE BELGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL EXPECTS 70 ASSURANCES TO BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY (NOT INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS). HE EXPECTS AN ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM UNDER THIS SCHEME OF 300 (NOT INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS). AFTER 5 YEARS RESIDENCE IN BELGIUM, THE ASP HOLDER WILL QUALIFY FOR BELGIAN CITIZENSHIP. TIME SPENT WORKING FOR A BELGIUM COMPANY IN HONG KONG WILL COUNT TOWARDS THIS. THE BELGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL PARTICULARLY ASKED THAT WE SHOULD

NOT REVEAL THIS POINT.

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