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In general, I will grant citizenship on the basis of recommendations from the Governor, and I will be able to reject
such recommendations only in limited circumstances which will be defined in the Bill, ie where an individual fails to satisfy the good character requirements.
13. In preparing recommendations, and overseeing the selection
scheme, the Governor will have the assistance of a high powered
Steering Group, which will be chaired by a very senior person (possibly the Chief Secretary) and which will work closely with
the Independent Commission Against Corruption, one of whose directors may be a member of the Group. There is the question
whether HMG should be represented on this Steering Group.
Although there will obviously be an expectation that the
selection procedures for the award of British citizenship should be monitored by HMG to some degree, I would want to guard against
too great an involvement in the operation of the selection process. I shall consider this question further with the Foreign Secretary in the light of further proposals, expected shortly
from Hong Kong, in the precise constitution and formal role, of
the Steering Group. Depending upon that role, it may be necessary to make provision for the Group on the face of the
Bill.
The Mechanics of Selection
General Allocation Scheme (GAS)
i)
Allocation of Assurances by Group
14. Using the International Standard Classification of
Occupations, HKG have divided the working population of Hong Kong into 31 broad groups, each of which covers a large number of occupations. The groups, and examples of the sub-
categories within them, are set out in Annex C1. The 36,700
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