TNAG-2183-FCO40-3120-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 100

BACKGROUND

References: A

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CONFIDENTIAL

B

C

D

E

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Extract from record of meeting between Chief

Minister and Mr Maude - 25 January 1990

Correspondence on Gibraltar's powers to

grant right of residence

FCO telno 163 to Gibraltar

Morris' minute to Mr McLaren of 20 September

- Letter from Home Office of 21 September

Α

B

C

1. At the beginning of the year the Chief Minister raised the subject with Mr Maude of attracting entrepreneurs and investment to Gibraltar from Hong Kong. Mr Maude made clear

that HMG welcomes schemes which have a similar aim to the

British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act in encouraging people to remain in Hong Kong by giving them the assurance of right of entry/abode elsewhere. The Chief Minister accepted this and asked if it would be possible to include Gibraltar in the

Bill which was about to be introduced to Parliament at that

time. This would have further complicated the already complex legislation and in any case, there appeared to be ample scope to introduce a scheme for Hong Kong people under

the existing Immigration Rules of Gibraltar. The Chief Minister has since confirmed that there is no difficulty in Gibraltar granting permits under their own Immigration

Control Ordinance. Mr Garel-Jones reminded Bossano of the

purpose of our nationality scheme when they meet on

11 September, and undertook to consider in that light the proposal to offer right of residence in Gibraltar to 2000

Hong Kong people in exchange for some £20m investment in a land reclamation project.

2. We would have no objection in principle to settlement in exchange for investment, many countries, including the

UK, have business migrant schemes; we would also not wish to

MTHARV/2

CONFIDENTIAL