TNAG-2180-FCO40-3117-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 87

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NFIDENTIAL

I HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 1081

OF 281126Z MARCH 90

INFO ROUTINE

PARIS

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

002146

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT:

FRENCH SCHEME

WE HAVE OBTAINED AN UPDATED BRIEFING ON THE LATEST FRENCH PROPOSAL.

2.

THE IDEA THEY ARE PRESENTLY CONSIDERING FOLLOWS A BROAD SURVEY OF ALL FRENCH COMPANIES IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE (E.G. RESTAURANTS). THEY NOW RECKON THAT OF APPROXIMATELY 10,000 LOCALLY-EMPLOYED STAFF, THE SCHEME WILL NEED TO COVER ABOUT 15 PERCENT, OR 1,500 HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD. AT PRESENT, THE HOUSEHOLD WOULD INCLUDE SPOUSE AND CHILDREN UNDER 18. THIS IS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION, HOWEVER, AND THE CONSULATE ARE TRYING TO GET THE AGE LIMIT FOR CHILDREN UP TO 25, AS THEY FEAR THAT MAKING IT TOO LOW WILL PROMPT PEOPLE TO LEAVE EARLY IN ORDER TO COVER THEIR CHILDREN.

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THE SCHEME WILL WORK AS FOLLOWS. COMPANIES WILL PUT FORWARD A LIST OF NAMES. THESE WILL BE SUBMITTED TO PARIS FOR SECURITY · CLEARANCE (BUT NOT OTHERWISE BE SUBJECT TO SELECTION BY THE CONSULATE). THE COMPANY WILL ALSO PROVIDE A LETTER OF COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE WORK FOR THE INDIVIDUAL IN FRANCE. WHEN A NAME IS CLEARED, THE INDIVIDUAL (AND HIS/HER SPOUSE) WILL BE ISSUED WITH A LAISSEZ- PASSER DOCUMENT. CHILDREN WILL BE NAMED ON THE DOCUMENT WHICH WILL ALSO CARRY A STATEMENT SAYING THE HOLDER AND FAMILY HAVE THE RIGHT, TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN FRANCE WHEN THEY WISH PROVIDING THEY HAVE÷ EMPLOYMENT WITH THEIR SPONSORING COMPANY. THREE SIGNATURES WILL BE ON THE DOCUMENT: THE POSSESSOR, THE COMPANY MANAGER, AND THE

CONSUL-GENERAL.

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UPON PRESENTATION OF SUCH A DOCUMENT IN FRANCE THE HOLDER IS GRANTED A VISA D'ETABLISSMENT, A LONG-TERM STAY VISA VALID FOR THREE MONTHS. THIS WOULD THEN BE EXTENDED UNTIL RESIDENCE PERIOD NECESSARY TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP IS FULFILLED. BUT THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT WITHIN WHICH RECIPIENTS OF THE LAISSEZ-PASSER DOCUMENTS HAVE TO CASH THEM IN. NOR IS THERE ANY FORMAL LIMITATION OF NUMBERS, OR THE PERIOD OF TIME"OVER WHICH THIS SCHEME WILL EXTEND. THE ONLY QUALIFYING CONDITIONS ARE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE WORKED FIVE YEARS WITH A FRENCH COMPANY, MUST SPEAK FRENCH, AND MUST OF COURSE BE SPONSORED BY HIS EMPLOYER.

HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

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DOFÁDM

HECS (2), AG, PA (3), DPA, APA (G), APA (S), SFORS (2), S (GD) (9), LO (IL) (3), DOFIMM (3), CROWN SOLICITOR, PAS (S) 3 (2), BTC (2), JLG (3), HEAD/CPU, IC, AA/CS, PS/GH

CONFIDENTIAL