TNAG-2373-FCO40-3448-Hong-Kong-nationality-UK-passport-scheme-British-Nationalit-1991 — Page 88

06060

REFERRED HO/HKD FOR DISTRIBUTION ADVICE (AS FCO 161 OR 162?) LNMDAN 3106 CEHPAN

RESTRIC D

DD 0611JZ FCOLN

FM CANBE TO FCOLN

060545Z MAR GRS 173

RESTRICTED

FM CANBERRA

4843

TO DESKBY 061130Z FCO

TELNO 168

OF 060545Z MARCH 91

FOR PAUL, HKD

FCO TELNOS 161 AND 162: GUARDIAN ARTICLE/ON THE NATIONALITY SCHEME

1. APS/LORD CAITHNESS, CURRENTLY IN MELBOURNE, HAS ASKED US TO PASS ON THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT IN SECOND TUR:

A)

B)

PARAS 1 AND 2: COMBINE AND AMEND AS FOLLOWS:

(A) ''I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT A FUNDAMENTAL INACCURACY IN GERALD

SEGAL'S COMMENTARY OF 5 MARCH ON OUR NATIONALITY SCHEME FOR HONG KONG. MR SEGAL IS WRONG TO STATE THAT 250,000 PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG HAVE BEEN OFFERED PLACES. THE TRUE SITUATION IS THAT THERE ARE PLACES FOR 50,000 HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS AND THEIR FAMILIES AVAILABLE UNDER THE SCHEME: 43,500 NOW, IN THE FIRST TRANCHE, AND THE REST ARE TO BE ALLOCATED CLOSER TO 1997. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR THIS FIRST TRANCHE WAS 65,723. MR SEGAL CLAIMS THAT LESS THAN 10 PER CENT OF THE AVAILABLE PLACES HAD BEEN APPLIED FOR. IN FACT THE SCHEME WAS OVER SUBSCRIBED BY MORE THAN 50 PER CENT.''

OLD PARA 5: DELETE.

MACKLEY

YYYY

CEHPAN 4843