}
SE-MAR-1991
17:12
DIRECTOR OF ADM.
852 877 0802
P.02
PRESS BRIEFING ON 5 MARCH
ON BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME
I See latest outturn figures attached.
2 About 600 000 people in Hong Kong belong to the occupations covered by the Scheme. About 200 000 of them are foreign nationals. Assuming the remaining 400 000 people are all BDTC and eligible to apply under the scheme, the receipt of 66 000 applications means that 1 in 6 eligible candidates in Hong Kong has applied under the Scheme. The application rate is in fact higher since we know not all those 400 000 candidates are BDTCS.
3
4
5
The Scheme has exerted a stabilising effect on the community and acted as a catalyst in the creation of other assurance schemes by other countries specifically for Hong Kong.
The Scheme has done its part in addressing the problem of brain drain and will anchor key people in Hong Kong across 1997.
Hong Kong is a free society. People are free to emigrate and return. Similarly, they are free to apply or not to apply under the British Nationality Scheme. It has never been Government policy to promote the Scheme. Although the subscription rate is reasonably high, we would not have been worried or have introduced extraordinary measures e.g. extending the application
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.