TNAG-2195-FCO40-3132-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 92

E.R.

The caseload will of course include spouses and children under 18

and will therefore depend partly on the sizes of the families of

those selected. We have made reasonable assumptions based on

Hong Kong census data.

After the initial two year period the flow of recommendations is

likely to decline sharply and it should therefore be possible to

reduce the number of staff. The team will be disbanded

altogether by 30 June 1997, which is the deadline imposed by

clause 1(1) for registration under the selection scheme.

Mr Speaker, the second part of the Resolution refers to payments

into the Consolidated Fund. Since the proposals are for the

benefit of Hong Kong, it is clearly right that the administration

costs should fall to the Hong Kong Government.

Accordingly, clause 4(2) provides for the Governor of Hong Kong

to reimburse the Secretary of State for his expenditure under the

Bill. The Governor will be empowered by clause 3(1)(b) to

charge application and registration fees and it is envisaged that

these will be set at a level sufficient to recover the

administration costs of the Hong Kong Government,

small element of United Kingdom expenditure.

as well as the

Mr Speaker, it is difficult to be precise about the costs of

mounting this exercise, for which there is no precise precedent.

However, I hope that the House will be helped by this account of

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