TSB
GROUP
Sir Nicholas Goodison
Chairman
The Rt Hon. Douglas Hurd CBE MP Secretary of State
Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs Foreign & Commonwealth Office London
SWIA 2AH
TSB Group plc Head Office
25 Milk Street
London EC2V 8LU
Telephone 01-606 7070
14 November 1989
Dean diastas
Hong Kong
We talked briefly the other day about Hong Kong in general, and this letter is in no sense a follow up of that discussion.
The TSB Group has over 500 staff in Hong Kong. Some of them are ex-patriates with British, US, or Indian passports, but most of them are domiciled in Hong Kong. Our main businesses in Hong Kong are Wallem & Company whose activities comprise ship management, shipbroking and ship agency, and Hill Samuel.
and an inc. ca 1 going to Can
We are finding the situation increasingly difficult. As you know, keen young Chinese people have been very attracted by the possibility of gaining Canadian passports. There have been no new develop on this front but current events in China have led to a loss of confidence
willingness on the part of the Hong Kong Chinese to pin their hopes on which imposes 2 requirement of residence on those who want passports. A new dimension is the decision by France to guarantee a right of abode to key employees of French owned companies should they need to leave Hong Kong. This has undoubtedly increased competitive pressures and made it more difficult still for our businesses to employ key people.
I am aware that the British Government have said they will grant a right of abode in the United Kingdom to certain categories of people in Hong Kong. I would be grateful if you would let me know what the current thinking is in general, and what policies if any are being considered in relation to the very important British business community in particular.
Your ever Muurlan
Registered Office: 16 Hope Street. Charlotte Square. Edinburgh EH2 4DD. Registered in Scotland: Number 95000.
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