TNAG-2371-FCO40-3446-Hong-Kong-nationality-UK-passport-scheme-British-Nationalit-1991 — Page 80

E.R.

Mr Frosztega

S3 Division

MONITORING OF HONG KONG BENEFICIARIES

сс

Miss Dews

Mr Walker, S3 Mr J Morris, FCO

Mr Knight, OPCS

See Minse out.

j. Jala

Thank you for copying to me your note of 9 January to Mr Walker

enclosing a draft submission on the above.

I have discussed this with Miss Dews and we conclude that it is

questionable whether the proposed extension of the IPS would give any meaningful indication of likely numbers of beneficiaries entering the UK. In addition to those Hong Kong people who acquire their citizenship after April 1991 under the 1981 Act, there will be others benefiting under the 1990 Act, particularly spouses acquired outside Hong Kong, who may slip the net. Furthermore, it must be open to question whether Hong Kong beneficiaries under the 1990 Act, paranoid as they will be about the prospect of the origin of their citizenship leaking out, will relish

relish the thought of answering the proposed question.

In view of the above, it is suggested that this issue should be put to the IND Board, either in writing or at a meeting, before it goes to Ministers. On a presentational point, it might be useful to find out exactly what the Hong Kong system might offer (paragraph 4) before taking the matter any further.

Juan Lage.

J S PAGE

January 15, 1991

Hong Kong Unit B2 Division