TNAG-2190-FCO40-3127-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 23

(ZA)

SECRET

UK SECONDMENT SCHEME

31

This scheme originated in the Home Office as part of the effort to enlarge the coverage of the package to include an element whereby a local firm having a sub-office or main office

or an established business partner in the UK may secure British citizenship for its staff. On admission into the scheme a secondee will be granted clearance to enter the UK and work in a designated firm during the following five years.

At the end of the five years the secondee and his dependents may be registered as British citizens if he is able to prove that he has resided and worked in the UK for not less than 24 months and in Hong Kong for the rest of the preceding five years.

32

Ministers have accepted this scheme which was referred to in the Secretary of State's statement of 22 December. However, Ministers have ruled that the scheme must come within the package under the ceiling of 50,000 households. During the last visit of the UK officials earlier in February, they contacted a number of leading local firms which had previously supported the scheme. It is understood that these firms left the UK officials with an impression that while they were disappointed that the scheme would now have to accommodated within the package, they were still interested in it and ready to propose secondments.

be

SECRET

Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1)