MON
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c)
We
letter to you of 15 August 1989 on the EPR proposal. are unhappy about the scale of the Grand Turk Development Ltd project; and doubt whether a Territory the size of TCI could absorb 1,000 immigrants without social tensions being exacerbated. Would there not be undue pressure on land resources? You might point out once again that a limited inflow of eg twenty or thirty immigrants per year would be sufficient to give the hoped for economic stimulus to the Territory. (Our grave reservations about the scale of Grand Turk Development Ltd's proposals would remain even if we were to receive an assurance that it would be nothing more than a safety net device).
On a point of fact, you should emphasise that the government of Gibraltar has expressed an interest in offering 100 (not 1000) Hong Kong residents the opportunity of residing in Gibraltar. This matter is still under discussion between the UK and Gibraltar governments.
3. Please draw on the above points as you wish in discussions with Ministers. For your own information, there is no question of Hong Kong residents paying directly for EC passports, though I gather that some investment in Gibraltar will be required, which is probably the basis of the reference in the ExCo paper. I think though that it may prove a waste of time (or perhaps even counterproductive) to explain this distinction to your Ministers. I think too that you should refrain from mentioning that we have consulted the Government of Hong Kong on this proposal.
4. I attach a copy of a letter from Robin Gorham to Alan Scott on a proposal to fund a Cayman "Trade and Business Information Centre" in Hong Kong which you may find interesting background reading.
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Your ever,
Jele
P January
West Indian & Atlantic Department
DT5AKK
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