CONFIDENTIA
2.
The Hong Kong officials also believe, from informal soundings taken among companies in the Colony, that there will be little interest in the approved secondment scheme if beneficiaries count against the 50,000 limit. Officials from this Department will be taking their own soundings among companies which had earlier expressed an interest, and will report their findings during the course of next month.
As well as considering details of the way in which citizenship should be allocated, officials will be pursuing a number of points about eligibility. Although we have so far seen the scheme being open only to BDTCS and BN(0)s, there are a number of others in Hong Kong who have recently applied for BDTC status and officials are considering whether, and if so how far, eligibility for this scheme should be extended to those who are not (yet) BDTCS. They are also looking at the position of people holding dual nationality, who already have a right to go to a third country if they wish.
While there is still a good deal of work to be done on the proposals, every effort is being made both here and in Hong Kong to have the Bill ready for introduction by Easter, so as to give us the best possible chance of completing its passage before the summer recess. I shall of course continue to keep colleagues informed of progress as work proceeds.
Copies of this letter go to the Prime Minister and other members of OD(K), the Secretary of State for Employment, the Attorney General, the Chief Whip, Sir Percy Craddock and Sir Robin Butler.
CONFIDENTIAL
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