From: THE PRIVATE SECRETARY
1
BRIEF No. 5
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE LONDON SWIH 9AT
7 July 1987
Dear Andy
Thank you for your letter of 2 July about the Prime Minister's meeting with Mr Li Ka-Shing on 22 July.
The Prime Minister wrote to Sir Keith Joseph on
the same general subject on 12 February this year.
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The key point is that British citizenship cannot be offered for sale in return for investment here. Applicants for British citizenship have to meet the requirements of the law. The Home Secretary has discretion some of the requirements, and he has made it clear that he is ready to this flexibly in dealing with people who have substantial business interests abroad, but he must still be satisfied that an applicant has really thrown in his lot with this country and has genuinely made his home here before granting him British citizenship. We do not suggest that the Prime Minister herself refers to this, but I attach as you asked a briefing note in case it is raised.
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Your
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WR FITTALL