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b)
c)
give an idea of how the scheme will work in practice.
Annex A is a provisional draft setting this out in
general terms. I intend that a less detailed version
of this, pulling together the main features of the
scheme, should be available to Parliament at the time
of introduction of the Bill. That document would need
to be less specific, in particular, about what was proposed for 'the sensitive services'
see paragraph
34 below; and
-
invite colleagues to agree the line which I propose
should be taken in one or two areas of potential
difficulty.
Approved Secondment Scheme
3.
One feature of the Foreign Secretary's announcement on 20
December was a proposed secondment scheme, whereby people could
earn British citizenship by a total of five years' residence,
partly in the UK and partly in Hong Kong. My letter of 31
January indicated that we had heard there might be a lack of
interest in the scheme amongst companies in Hong Kong now they
knew that participants granted citizenship would have to count against the 50,000 ceiling. Officials visiting Hong Kong last
month took the opportunity to sound out seven of those who had previously indicated an interest. All of them expressed strong
disappointment that the scheme was to be included within the
50,000 total, rather than to be available as an 'extra'. Two of
the seven said that they would be unlikely to participate in
these circumstances; the other five indicated a continuing
interest, though not necessarily for large numbers.
4.
The Hong Kong Government, and the Governor personally,
however, are firmly opposed to such a scheme within the 50,000
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2
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.