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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991
"UNLIKE IMMIGRATION SCHEMES OFFERED BY OTHER MOST OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, PRINCIPAL OR SECONDARY BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SETTLE IN THE UK IN ORDER TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP,
"WITH THIS ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE OF CITIZENSHIP, A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT OR HIS SPOUSE OR THEIR CHILDREN MAY EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN THE UK AT ANY TIME WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ANY OTHER PROCEDURES.
"WE HOPE, OF COURSE, THAT THE BENEFICIARY WILL SIMPLY CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG FINDING IT UNNECESSARY AT ALL TO EXERCISE SUCH RIGHT.
"HIS BRITISH
AFFECTED IN EITHER ABROAD, HE ADDED.
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CITIZENSHIP AND NATIONALITY STATUS WILL NOT BE CASE. NOR IS HE REQUIRED TO SEND HIS FAMILY
MR TSANG SAID THE MOURNFUL STORIES OF 80 CALLED PROLONGED "IMPRISONMENT" IN THE DESTINATION COUNTRIES, "ASTRONAUTS" LEAVING THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN ABROAD IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR CITIZENSHIP WOULD NOT OCCUR.
"THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT MAY CONTINUE HIS LIFESTYLE AND CAREER
IN HONG KONG AND SHARE THE HAPPINESS WITH HIS FAMILY HERE.
**THIS IS THE INTENTION AND ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHEME OVER ALL OTHERS, HE SAID.
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ON CRITICISMS THAT THE SCHEME WAS TOO COMPLICATED AND THE LENGTH OF THE APPLICATION FORM HAD SCARED MANY PEOPLE OFF, MR TSANG SAID THE CRITICS MIGHT HAVE OVER-STATED THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SCHEME'S PROCEDURES.
"THEY SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT THE SCHEME IS A NATIONALITY SCHEME, THE AIM OF WHICH IS TO SELECT CITIZENS FOR A COUNTRY.
"THEY SHOULD NOT EXPECT AN APPLICANT SPENDING LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES IN COMPLETING THE FORM AND OTHER FORMALITIES," HE SAID.
FOR
FOR THOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES SETTLEMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY WOULD READILY NOTICE THAT THE FORM USED IN THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH OTHERS IN TERMS OF CLARITY AND SIMPLICITY, MR TSANG SAID.
HE REMINDED APPLICANTS THAT IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS ON FORM COMPLETION OR OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE SCHEME, THEY COULD ALWAYS CALL THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HOTLINE AT 802 3300.
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