TNAG-2193-FCO40-3130-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 87

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CONFIDENTIAL

3.

this course is right it would seem best to remove journalists and news editors from the writers and creative artists occupational group and incorporate them within the "information science professionals" group, which would then be renamed "information services". Although we have avoided tinkering with the component parts of the broad occupational groups, I am satisfied that in this case such a course would be justified and so recommend to colleagues.

A problem also arises from the exclusion of the Health Associate Professionals occupational group which removes a vital pool of expertise, including, in particular, health inspectors, physiotherapists and radiographers. There are strong arguments for the difficulties caused by the high immigration rates of some of its constituent occupations. Radiographers, for example, are having to be recruited from outside Hong Kong and shortages of these and physiotherapists are delaying the opening of a new hospital in Hong Kong.

The occupational group is large about 9,000 and its emigration rate is high at 2.9%. The omission of the group would, I believe, be difficult to defend in Parliament (and it would certainly have its lobbyists). Although it could be argued that the most vital categories from within the group could be swept up within the residual category, I feel that the group is so important as a whole that it should be reinstated. I recommend to colleagues that we so proceed.

I have been looking at the possibility of wholly or partially achieving the objectives of the Approved Secondment Scheme outside the Bill. I have recorded my provisional conclusions on this in a letter to the Foreign Secretary, which I have copied to you and other OD(K) colleagues.

Indications are that we shall face heavy and determined lobbying on behalf of British firms in Hong Kong who feel they should be given preference in the allocation of assurances. I am looking to see how far their concerns may be met, but I do not propose that any special category or preferential measures should be introduced beyond the advantage they will already gain through the "British links" factor in the points scheme.