TNAG-2188-FCO40-3125-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 153

HOME

SECRETARY

Miland, HD

CONFIDENTIAL

PS

PS/M Mande the Gillmore

Mr Mclaren

Mi Lidington (17

Head, NT

Lila/

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE LONDON SWIH 9ẶT

Bill;

རིབ་ཆ་

эко 340/14

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

10 APR 1990

HONG KONG ASSURANCEEGISTRY

DESK

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

|| January 1990

·RO17,

Miss Marque

Mc Maryish

I have been giving further thought to the timetable and structure of the and I thought it would be useful to write to you and colleagues about this in advance of your departure for Hong Kong on 12 January, though I take it that during your visit you will resist any pressure to speculate on the possible details of the legislation.

Structure of the Bill

My objective will be to ensure that the details of the scheme are kept off the face of the Bill as far as possible; and to minimise the scope for appeals and litigation by those not selected. On this basis, and in line with the decisions we have already taken, a good deal of the Bill's structure is already becoming clear to us. In particular, the Bill would:

(a) define the categories of persons from whom the selections are to be made, i.e. Hong Kong BDTCS and

(b)

(c)

(d)

BNOS and their spouses and children under 18;

limit the number of grants of citizenship to 50,000 and possibly prescribe a 2 to 1 ratio in favour of the private sector;

place a duty on the Governor to ensure that the number of recommendations submitted falls within the ceiling and ratio and empower the Secretary of State to reject recommendations which would result in either being exceeded;

tightly define the Secretary of State's discretion to refuse recommendations, probably limiting it to cases of personal unsuitability;

The Rt Hon Douglas Hurd, CBE., MP.

Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs

WHITEHALL, S.W.1.

CONFIDENTIA

/over..