TNAG-2190-FCO40-3127-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 36

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 1 APR 1990

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REGISTRY

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HONG KONG ASSURANCES : GENERAL ALLOCATION SCHEME (GAS)

120)

This note looks at the options for revising the GAS in OD (K) (90) 1 to reflect a concern to give it a stronger and more defensibly "economic" character. It assumes that:

"emigrateability" must cease to be the dominant factor for justifying inclusion in the scheme of occupations but not for determining success rates between occupations once they are selected

certain occupations may in consequence be excluded even though they have high

"

'emigrateability" rates eg performers and entertainers etc

presentationally stress should be laid on the objectivity of the allocations within occupations rather than on whether they should qualify for consideration in the first place. The latter has to involve an essentially political judgement in which "emigrateability is only one of several important factors. The final scheme presented to Parliament would, of course, take careful account of views expressed in Parliament during the passage of the Bill

PUBLIC RATIONALE

Following suggests the broad lines upon which paragraphs 6 - 10 of Annex A to OD (K) (90) 1 would be reconstructed.

Eligibility

2. People ordinarily resident in Hong Kong and within groups which are judged to be essential to the prosperity and well-being of Hong Kong, and who would also be capable of making a welcome contribution to British society if, contrary to expectation, they came here.

Selection

3. The scheme would operate on the basis of the broad occupational groups annexed which have been composed by reference to the eligibility criteria above. Within these categories the

CONFIDENTIAL