Speaker. I want to commend the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from New York for their leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. and I commend also the gentleman from Connecticut and the gentleman from Texas for their hard work in making it come about. The legislation contains many important provisions. and three of them are on immigration from the Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Hong Kong. as the Members are well aware. is one of the worlds great economic miracles. representing. perhaps. the most vibrant economy in the world. which will come under the control of Communist China in 1997. With Tiananmen Square and the ongoing abuses of human rights by the Peoples Republic of China. understandably the people of Hong Kong are extremely nervous about their future. and. Mr. Speaker. they are voting with their feet and leaving Hong Kong in record numbers. This year alone 62.000 are immigrating. They are going to Singapore and to Canada. they are going to Australia. they are going to many other places in the world. These are entrepreneurs who know how to create Jobs and make another economy equally vibrant. U.S. business has great interests in Hong Kong. as well with $16 billion invested and with many thousands of Hong Kong citizens as their employ. ees. These businesses are also suffering because of this tremendous emigration. The bill contains three provisions that are of great help. First. it raises the quota from 5.000 to 10.000. Second. it creates a special quota for Hong Kong employees of U.S. businesses of 12.000 a year. Third. it creates an unprecedented type of visa. one that is exercisable at the holders discretion over a long period of time. 5 years past the 1997 date. and it will provide the kind of insurance to Hong Kong people that will allow them to stay in Hong Kong and continue to work and make Hong Kong an ongoing example of successful free enterprise that can influence the future economic policies of Beijing post1997. This special visa is the work of our colleague. the gentleman from Massachusetts . who ought to be commended for his great creativity and his vision in seeing that this safety net is provided for the people of Hong Kong which will encourage them to stay and work and. at the same time. allow them to leave. if they must. in the face of possible future abuses of Hong Kong citizens by the Peoples Republic of China. So I commend all these gentlemen for their good work. Hong Kong will be the better for it.
Keywords matched
immigration emigration visa immigrating