theoretically possible
It is of course conceivable that every one of the 50,000 families who benefit from our scheme will decide to come and live in
extremely
Britain. We think this unlikely because of these families' cultural, personal and professional ties with Hong Kong. But if they did all come here, the "penalty" for this country would be to cake in up to 225,000 of the most enterprising and talented people from one of the most successful economies seen this century.
Nor would they all be likely to arrive at once. A significant
proportion of passports will be held back until the last years of British rule. This will give the authorities in Hong Kong some flexibility, for example in respect of people newly promoted to important posts, without exceeding the limit of 50,000 families
which we shall ask Parliament to endorse.
The Chinese Government's critical reaction to our proposals is misplaced. Britain has an explicit duty under the Joint Declaration to do everything possible to sustain prosperity and stability in Eong Kong, and our asssurances scheme is designed to help meet that cbligation.
China is still working on a draft Basic Law to govern Hong Kong after 1997, and the British Government is continuing to talk frankly with the Chinese about the type of law which will best serve the interests of the people of the territory. Recent Chinese press reports about possible amendments to the draft Basic Law have not marked any significant change in Peking's position. It is accepted in the Joint Declaration that a small number of senior government posts in Hong Kong would, after 1997, be reserved for Chinese
nationals. What China is now talking about is the possible extension of that list to cover perhaps 50 or 60 jobs in the public service.
As for consular protection, Britain will continue to offer full consular protection to full British citizens anywhere in the world. But the Joint Declaration recognised the peculiar position of Hong Kong people who hold a BDTC passport and have no right of abode in the United Kingdom. Under Chinese nationality law, these people will after 1997 be considered as full Chinese citizens, for China
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