TNAG-2190-FCO40-3127-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 17

For information

on 28 February 1990

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RECEIVED IN NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

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DESKUNTOERD KİNGDOM NATIONALITY PACKAGE

INDEX

INTRODUCTION

PA

Action Taken!

The purpose

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Mr Morris

W/28/2

of this memorandum is to inform Members

of the design and construction of the UK nationality package as evolved up to this point, the outcome of the discussions with HMG on the package So far and the timetable for legislation of the proposed nationality bill for Hong Kong during the months ahead. The last report to Members on this subject took place on 20 December 1989 when the Director of Administration appeared before the Council.

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BACKGROUND

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On 20 December 1989, the Secretary of State announced in Parliament that HMG would shortly introduce primary legislation into Parliament aimed at granting British citizenship to 50,000 key people and their dependents in Hong Kong, without requiring them to settle in the UK. The package would time.

3

other

cease by 1997. The package is thus limited in scope and

The package would cover professional, business and people in the public and private sectors. Beneficiaries would be selected on the basis of a points system; the decisive criteria would be the value of the individuals' service to Hong Kong and the extent to which people in their occupational groups are emigrating from Hong Kong. Provision would also be made for those who, by virtue of their position, would find themselves vulnerable in the years ahead. A separate scheme within the package would enable Hong Kong firms to secure British citizenships for their key staff by seconding them to work in their affiliated organizations in the UK.

4

Since the announcement on 20 December, the Director of Administration has held two rounds of talks on implementing the Ministers' decision with a team of UK officials set up jointly by the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth office specially for the purpose. The first round took place in London in mid-January and the second in Hong Kong on 5-9 February. A lot of ground was covered. The conclusions reached are summarised below.

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