TNAG-2191-FCO40-3128-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 18

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

administration and Hong Kong opinion.

(iii) We would be able to say to Parliament that while this was by definition a highly selective scheme - demonstrably aimed at

nevertheless within those parameters key personnel fairly and objectively based.

it was

We could explain that, given the necessarily limited numbers of assurances available, we have judged it essential to focus the scheme on genuinely key

groups.

the business category will (iv) This approach should mean that achieve over 50% of the available places under the General Allocation Scheme. It would also be possible to refine the points system (eg, by using a different variation factor for each group) to ensure that businessmen were favoured.

Entrepreneurs

But 5. The Prime Minister has expressed concern about this group. the Home Secretary's proposal that special discretion be given to

ensure this group was adequately the Governor was precisely to covered. The discretion would apply to those whose value to Hong reason or another might not Kong was self-evident but who for one

The intention was to be certain of qualify under a points scheme. covering entrepreneurs who either did not qualify or who refused to subject themselves to a points scheme.

6.

If it were thought preferable, for presentational reasons, entrepreneurs to be seen explicitly to be incorporated into the package it would be perfectly possible to establish a category or special scheme with its own quota and an appropriate points system based on eg, number of employees, turnover or share value of business etc. But this would tend to attract criticism on grounds

it might be preferable to retain a of elitism; and in any case general discretionary power to enable the Governor to pick up those

We envisage a quota of perhaps who would still refuse to apply. 1,000 places.

ARPaul

AR Paul

CONFIDENTIAL

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