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HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
As my Rt Hon Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 20 December, Hong Kong is an international centre with huge international investment. Is major trading partners have a strong interest in Hong Kong's continuing stability and prosperity. My Rt Hon Friend the Minister cf State in the Foreign Office announced in Hong Kong last week the
extent of the international support which has already been offered
cz which is in prospect.
Singapore has already introduced a scheme covering up to 25,000
heads of household. Within the European Community, France is
implementing a scheme to provide passports or the right of entry to employees of French companies and their families. The Belgian
Government have announced a similar scheme; Germany and Luxembourg
are finalising schemes of broadly the same nature.
My Rt Hon Friend the Minister of State also referred in Hong Kong the flexibility which already exists under the Immigration Rules c
such countries as Canada and Australia. The same applies to New
lealand. He also drew attention to the very helpful proposal
currently under consideration by the US Congress that would enable Hong Kong people granted the right to settle in the United States to
defer settlement there until 2002.
Such measures, whether they be specifically tailored to Hong Kong,
o whether they reflect the worldwide izigration policies of countries concerned, are very helpful. Taken together, they add significantly to the impact of our scheme. We shall continue to urge other countries to follow these examples.
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