TNAG-2190-FCO40-3127-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 142

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Immigration and

Nationality Department

Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY

Telephone 01-760 2893 (GTN 3882)

| HOME OFFICE

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Mi Stadler.

CONFIDENTIAL

Your reference

Our reference

Date 20 February 1990

Mr Donald Tsang

Director of Administration Hong Kong Government Government Secretariat Lower Albert Road HONG KONG

Dear Donald,

Thank you very much for looking after us so well when we were in Hong Kong last week. Clearly there was a great deal of work to be got through, but it was helpful to be able to conduct business in such a friendly and constructive atmosphere.

We noted your concerns about the

the proposal for a secondment scheme, and I promised to let you have as early as possible our thoughts on how such a scheme might operate. These are attached and they are, of course, subject to further consideration of the issues by Ministers. The scheme would provide participating organisations with the opportunity to identify staff who are likely to be making key contributions to their business in the future, and to enable such staff to gain citizenship by residence without them having to spend the whole of the five qualifying years outside Hong Kong. As you will see, some of the administration of the scheme would be dealt with in the United Kingdom but our proposals are based on the thought that the Home Secretary would finally register each individual participant following a recommendation from the Governor a recommendation earned by the individual having satisfied the residence requirements which would be specified on the scheme. Proceeding by Governor's recommendation would fit in well with other elements in the citizenship scheme.

The proposals would require a checking of the bona fides of the sponsoring and receiving organisations, which would have to be established firms with demonstrable links, and this should help to minimise the risks of corruption. But I would be grateful if you could check with ICAC what other steps might be helpful in this regard.

CONFIDENTIAL