TNAG-2193-FCO40-3130-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 152

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

213

The Senior Deputy Secretary

East Lothian District Council Council Buildings

Haddington

East Lothian

EH41 3HA

нко

Dear Sir,

Telephone 01-

Your reference

CHRAAZ

Our reference

22 March 1990

3404

Date

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 4 MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

I have been asked to reply to your letter of 9 January to the Foreign Secretary about Hong Kong.

As the Prime Minister has made clear on a number of occasions there is simply no way the Government could grant right of abode to all 3.28 million BDTC passport holders in Hong Kong. That would be an enormous new immigration commitment on an unprecedented scale. Even if, as you say, it is unlikely that the majority of them would come to this country, it would be irresponsible for this Government to make commitments or raise expectations that no future Government could possibly meet.

The Government share the concern felt by many people in Hong Kong about the emigration of talented people from the territory and about the impact of this on Hong Kong's economy and administration. You will already be aware of the measures the Government have decided to take to tackle this problem. enclose a copy of the statement which the Foreign Secretary made in the House of Commons on 20 December giving the details.

The aim is to give the key people in the public and private sectors in the territory the assurance needed to persuade them to remain in Hong Kong. This will take the form of full British citizenship and will be awarded without the beneficiary ever having to leave the territory. I should like to draw attention also to the passage in the statement which states that beneficiaries will be drawn from "a wide range of walks of life in Hong Kong". As this makes clear, selection will be on the basis of value of service to Hong Kong, not of wealth or influence. In setting a ceiling on the scheme 50,000 heads of household or about 225,000 people in all - the Government have had to balance their desire to be as effective as possible in restoring confidence in Hong Kong against the ability to accept the individuals concerned for settlement in this country, should that ever be necessary.

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Hong Kong is a British responsibility and one which the