TNAG-2637-FCO40-3829-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Steering-Committee-on-British-Nationalit-1992 — Page 167

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Candidates who possess foreign nationality

11. At the meeting on 9 June 92, members advised that the possibility of inviting candidates who hold good quality passports should be considered at a later stage. However, some of these candidates have been pressing for an early reply on their eligibility under EC. It is therefore necessary to inform them where they currently stand.

12.

The current policy towards EC candidates who have foreign nationality is as follows:-

(a)

good quality passports : holders are normally not invited;

(b)

less popular passports: holders are recommended on the condition that they give up their passports;

(c)

passports of convenience : holders are recommended without having to give up their passports.

As the purpose of the Scheme is to provide key personnel with an assurance to stay in Hong Kong, it would be difficult to argue that holders of good quality passports would require British passport for assurance. The EC Task Group therefore recommends that the current policy towards candidates who have foreign nationality should be maintained. A rejection letter to these candidates is at Annex F.

G.F. 316

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