CONFIDENTIAL
31 broad occupational 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.
15. Under HKG's proposals the 36,200 assurances available for the GAS would be allocated between the 31 occupational groups
according to a formula based on their respective emigration rates over the past two years, and the overall size of the group. HKG feel that all sectors of the economically active population should be eligible to apply for British citizenship and they argue that any distribution which excluded whole occupational groups or particular occupations within these groups would be divisive and difficult to present in Hong Kong, HKG's proposals on the way the assurances should be distributed are at Annex C2.
16. Although over 2 million (78%) of Hong Kong's
Kong's working
population fall within the bottom five occupational groups, and HKG's proposals would allocate them just 12% of the places, I am deeply concerned about any of the assurances going to lower skilled or arguably less "key" groups.
offered We have
assurances with the intention that they would go to genuinely key
people who are needed in Hong Kong but who would also bring benefit to the UK if, contrary to expectation, they decided to come here. Although it would mean substituting our definition
of who
key personnel for the Governor's, and would effectively rule out some employees of British concerns
concerns (PSA,
British Trade Commission, British Council and the Garrison - see below), I propose that we should exclude from the scheme those groups with an emigration rate of 1% or lower, ie the last seven groups on the list at Annex C2, together with categories 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26 which do not, in my view, have a sufficiently key role in maintaining the prosperity of Hong Kong.
17.
are
However, the Foreign Secretary and I are concerned that such extensive surgery will render ineligible for consideration some
CONFIDENTIAL
7
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.