CAB128-94_A1b — Page 254

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obligation to provide assurances in the form of a right of abode in the United Kingdom for a limited number of key people in Hong Kong. These assurances, if they were to be effective, would need to take the form of a citizenship scheme on the lines proposed in the paper by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. The statement to Parliament, which should be made on 20 December, should indicate that a ceiling of 50,000 heads of household would apply, covering all categories; that the places would be allocated over a period of years; and that a proportion of the 50,000 places would be held back for allocation nearer to The estimate of the total of those eventually entitled to me to the United Kingdom, including dependents, should be

d on the best available advice on the multiplier factor, should also take realistic account of the requirements en had to be satisfied by those seeking to bring elderly dependents. The statement should stress the moral obligation resting on the United Kingdom to provide adequately for those in Hong Kong whose services were required there in the years to 1997, and should also indicate that implementing legislation would be introduced at the earliest opportunity. A revised statement should be circulated to the Ministers most closely concerned.

The Cabinez

ONFIDEN

Took note, with approval, of the Prime Minister's summing up of the discussion and invited the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to prozed accordingly.

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ER BUSINESS

PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE

RADE AND INDUSTRY said that he would be making a statement date that day on the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for dministration (PCA) on Barlow Clowes. The handling of the statement had been complicated by pressure from Members of Parliament to read the report of the PCA before the statement: the PCA report, which contained the Government response to his finding, was to be published at 3.30 pm. It had therefore been suggested that his statement should follow that of the Secretary of State for Transport on British Rail's objectives. The disadvantage of is was that, because the PCA's report contained the Government response, members would have read it before they heard it iswn oral statement.

In a brief discussion, it was noted that there had been strong pressure for the report to be published ahead of

statement.

There would undoubtedly be criticism if it was not. the

other hand, publication in advance of the statement

deprive the Secretary of State for Trade and Industs

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