TNAG-2192-FCO40-3129-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 191

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042723

MDHOAN 4617

SECRET FM FCO

TO DESKBY 09010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 522

OF 08163OZ MARCH 90

The 34014

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 1 MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR DEPUTY TO GOVERNOR FROM PAUL HKD HONG KONG NATIONALITY PACKAGE

1. IN THE COURSE OF HIS MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR TODAY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE EXPLAINED THAT, AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES OVER THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE, MINISTERS HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE SCOPE OF THE GENERAL SELECTION SCHEME WOULD HAVE TO BE MODIFIED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT IT FOCUSSED ON GENUINELY KEY PEOPLE. THEY HAD CONCLUDED THAT:

(A) THE LAST 7 OF THE INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS (IE ALL

THOSE WITH AN EMIGRATABILITY OF 1 PER CENT OR LOWER) SHOULD BE

EXCLUDED.

(B) A NUMBER OF OTHER OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORIES, WHO COULD NOT REASONABLY BE ARGUED TO BE CRUCIAL TO HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, SHOULD ALSO BE EXCLUDED. THESE NON ESSENTIAL GROUPS ARE: SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS, WRITERS AND CREATIVE ARTISTS, ARCHIVISTS, LIBRARIANS ETC, RELIGION PROFESSIONALS, PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCE ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS, INFORMATION SCIENCE ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEER ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS, HEALTH ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS.

2.

THE REMAINING CATEGORIES WOULD THEN BE AMALGAMATED INTO A SMALLER NUMBER OF BROAD CATEGORIES (WHICH WE ARE FAXING TO YOU TODAY).

3. THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THIS DEVELOPMENT.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE KEY TO THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE PACKAGE IN

HONG KONG HAD BEEN THE FACT THAT IT RANGED WIDELY ACROSS ALL

SECTORS OF HONG KONG SOCIETY AND THAT EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE OF SUCCESS, HOWEVER SMALL. THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD UNDERMINE THIS PRINCIPLE AND COULD CREATE MAJOR POLITICAL PROBLEMS. HE ASKED THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO CONSIDER A WAY IN WHICH THE EXCLUDED CATEGORIES COULD BE COVERED, SO THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSALITY WOULD CONTINUE TO APPLY.

4.

WE HAVE GIVEN RAPID THOUGHT AS TO HOW THIS MIGHT BE DONE. WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE AND DIRECTLY COUNTER

TO THE DECISION MINISTERS HAVE NOW TAKEN TO INCLUDE EVERYONE WITHIN THE 7 BROADLY DEFINED CATEGORIES MENTIONED ABOVE. IF

PRESSED WE WOULD BE UNABLE TO AVOID CONFIRMING WHICH OCCUPATIONAL

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