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6 British citizenship for Hong Kong investors
We recognise the valuable contribution Hong Kong businessmen can make to UK by investment. But we cannot legally grant citizenship
as a reward or as an honour. Anyone who wishes to become a British citizen must meet the statutory requirements of the British Nationality Act 1981.The two main requirements are that applicants for naturalisation should be free of immigration time restrictions (that is they should have been granted settlement here) on date of their application; and they should have been here on the date exactly 5 years before they apply. Government have no power to set these requirements aside.
We can be flexible about amount of time businessmen can be out of the country during 5 year period, but we must still be satisfied that the applicant has been here enough to show that he has has genuinely made the UK his home.
7. Hong Kong British Passport Holders: Entry Refusals
We are urgently looking into incidents (at Heathrow on 9 April and at Dover on 29 April) in which Hong Kong British passport holders were refused entry. There is no question of the validity of BN (0) or BDTC passports being in doubt, or of discrimination against holders at UK ports of entry. The holders do not require visas or entry certificates to enter the UK as visitors, but they were subject to British immigration rules. (If pressed): Every country has the right to refuse entry if there is a reason to suppose
the
purpose of entry is other than that stated. Complaints about the conduct of immigration officers are being vigorously pursued. The Home Office are considering whether recent cases which have been the subject of complaint from Hong Kong, and issues arising from them, require further guidance to immigration officers.
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