While we dont want people to leave. if they must leave. frankly we want these jobcreating entrepreneurs to come here and help make our economy as vibrant and strong as they have made Hong Kongs. In addition. H.R. 4300 waives the usual 4month requirement and permits Hong Kong residents holding United States visas to exercise their visas at any time until 2001. This safety net is extremely Important. The goal is not to drain the talented people from Hong Kong. but to give them confidence in the future. The purpose of this provision is to allow visa holders to remain in Hong Kong under Chinese control for several years after 1997. Hopefully. the Chinese under more enlightened leadership will adhere to their promises and many visa holders will choose not to exercise their visas and to stay after 2001. In the last year. American firms In Hong Kong lost 24 percent of their key employees to emigration from Hong Kong and to transfer to nonAmerican companiesmanagers. executives. and highly skilled employees who were offered immigration benefits as part of their employment package. The bill responds to this problem by providing an additional 15.000 visas for residents of Hong Kong who are employed in Hong Kong by a United States business and can be similarly employed in the United States. I commend the committee for its measured and timely response to the problems facing Hong Kong. The provisions in this bill relating to Hong Kong will go far to reassure the people of Hong Kong and make the transition of 1997 tolerable.
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emigration visas immigration visa