ckground
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Reference: A
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B.
Canberra letter of 7 May: Reporting a speech
by Senator Evans
Record of meeting between Governor and Senator Hill
HONG KONG/AUSTRALIA
1.
Australia has a substantial economic stake in
Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. 10,000 Australians in
Hong Kong, and over 300 companies. Australia is also the second most popular destination for Hong Kong emigrants; with an annual intake of some 19,000. It is Australia's
biggest source of business migrants. Exports to Australia
in 1990 were HK $3.5 bn and Imports HK $5.98 bn.
(Australia's fourth largest market for manufactured
exports).
2. Recent official level talks with Japanese have raised
the possibility that other third countries with a stake in
Hong Kong could use their bilateral contacts to help educate China in the economic realities of the international market, and hence influence the Chinese to adopt a more helpful
approach to Hong Kong. It would be useful to learn the
Shadow Foreign Minister's views.
3.
Australia has not been able to introduce a scheme of
assurances specifically for Hong Kong because of the non
descriminatory nature of its immigration legislation.
However they have always maintained that there is sufficient flexibility within their existing rules to benefit Hong Kong people. This was spelt out publicly by Senator Evans during his visit to Hong Kong in April. It would appear that the
flexibility is indeed considerable. He described the
arrangements as "at least as generous, if not more so, than
the widely publicised US scheme".
4.
The Opposition in Australia is very much in favour of the "Business Migrants' Programme".
TOYAKU/3
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