ZCZC
MILNAN 4587 OCMIAN 4587
CONFIDENTIAL
DD 2201UOZ HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
211600Z MAR
GRS 759
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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 220100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 546
OF 211600Z MARCH 86
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24587
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HMM OCOTEK
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 4 MAR 1986
DER OFFICER
REGISTRY
IND
PA
azteen Taken
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM LAYDEN
BRITISH CITIZENSHIP: REQUEST BY HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN
1.
MICHAEL SANDBERG SAW THE HOME SECRETARY ON 20 JANUARY AND
THE PRIME MINISTER ON 21 JANUARY. HE RAISED WITH BOTH THE
QUESTION OF 4 OR 5 VERY WEALTHY HONG KONG CHINESE WHO WISH TO
ACQUIRE BRITISH PASSPORTS, AND ARE PREPARED TO INVEST
SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BUT DO NOT WISH TO RESIDE IN
THE UK FOR THE PERIOD NECESSARY TO GIVE THEM AN ENTITLEMENT TO
REGISTER AS BRITISH CITIZENS, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO
LIVE IN HONG KONG AND MANAGE THEIR INVESTMENTS THERE. SANDBERG
SAID IT SEEMED ABSURD FOR THE UK TO FOREGO THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE
INVESTMENT ON A TECHNICALITY.
2.
NO 10 SOUGHT ADVICE ON THE QUESTION, AND THE HOME OFFICE
WROTE TO NO 10 ON 13 MARCH SAYING THAT THE HOME SECRETARY DOES
NOT THINK IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR HIM TO USE HIS POWERS IN THE WAY
MR SANDBERG HAS SUGGESTED. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE
INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED ARE BDTCS, THEN UNDER THE 1981 BNA, THEY
HAVE AN ENTITLEMENT TO REGISTER AS BRITISH CITIZENS IF THEY HAVE
LIVED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 5 YEARS AND IF THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO
ANY RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR STAY, WHICH MEANS IN EFFECT THAT THEY
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