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that in order for a person to qualify for the right of abode under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law, at least one of his or her natural parents must be a Chinese citizen who has the right of abode at the time of birth of that person. The Government introduced the Certificate of Entitlement Scheme on July 10, 1997, under which a person's status as a permanent resident of the HKSAR under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law can be established only by holding a valid travel document such as a One-way Permit with a valid certificate of entitlement affixed to it. This arrangement enables systematic verification of right of abode claims and ensures orderly entry. Between July 1, 1997 and the end of 2006, some 168 900 certificate of entitlement holders entered Hong Kong from the Mainland.
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme was launched on June 28, 2006 to attract talented people from the Mainland and overseas to settle in Hong Kong. The scheme is quota-based with an initial annual quota of 1 000. Applicants are required to choose to be assessed under one of two point-based tests, namely the General Points Test or the Achievement-based Points Test, and compete for quota allocation. Selection exercises are conducted on a regular basis to allocate quotas to the most meritorious applicants. Successful applicants are not required to secure an offer of local employment before entering Hong Kong for settlement. An advisory committee comprising official and non-official members appointed by the Chief Executive was established to recommend to the Director of Immigration how best to allocate quotas.
A total of 587 applications were received in 2006. Of the 122 short-listed applications forwarded to the advisory committee for deliberation, 83 were allocated quotas 73 under the General Points Test and 10 under the Achievement-based Points Test. At year's end, 25 successful applicants were issued with visas or entry. permits to live and work in Hong Kong.
Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was launched in October 2003. The scheme's objective is to facilitate the entry for residence of people who make capital investments in Hong Kong but who would not, in the context of the scheme, be engaged in running any business here. The new capital brought in by them is helpful to Hong Kong's economic development. The scheme is applicable generally to foreign nationals, Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) residents, Chinese nationals who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country, stateless people who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country with proven re-entry facilities, and residents of Taiwan. Successful applicants are required to invest in Hong Kong not less than $6.5 million in real estate or permissible financial assets, such as equities, debt securities, certificates of deposits, subordinated debt and other eligible Collective Investment Schemes. By end of 2006, a total of 1 910 applications had been received and 978 had been granted formal approval. Another 205 applicants, having been granted approval in principle, will be given formal approval, subject to their investments in the manner prescribed under the scheme. The 978 entrants, with formal approval, have invested a total of $6.99 billion.