TNAG-2195-FCO40-3132-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 163

FROM HONG KONG BILL UNIT

04.12.1990 11:43

NO. 2 - P. 4

I come now to the substance of our proposals.

I have laid before

the House two documents: a Bill and an outline selection scheme.

We shall listen carefully to views on both of these documents

during the Bill's passage. I shall deal with them in turn.

First, the Bill. It is a short enabling instrument, leaving the

details of the selection scheme to be submitted to Parliament

separately for approval under an Order-in-Council.

It would not

be sensible to attempt to prescribe the detailed scheme on the

face of the Bill. It must remain capable of amendment subject

in order to reflect of course to further approval by Parliament

any change in Hong Kong's needs or in the pattern of emigration

from Hong Kong.

want to be able to

to offer

For this reason, and because we

assurances to people moving into key positions later on,

of the

proportion a

we

for

intend to reserve

50,000 places

allocation closer to 1997. The Bill accordingly enables me to

limit the number of recommendations to be submitted to me in any

specified period.

We have given careful thought to the roles of the Governor and

Secretary of State. The Bill is designed for Hong Kong's benefit

and it is therefore right that it should give the principal

operating role to the Governor: it is he alone who will have the

local knowledge

a sufficient

necessary

administrative machine.

and

command

of