XN000022-1991-02-20 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE MISCONCEPTIONS MIGHT HAVE ARISEN BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SOME NINE MONTHS SINCE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE SCHEME WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED.

HE REITERATED THAT THERE WERE NO "PASSMARKS" AS SUCH.

"AN APPLICANT'S CHANCE DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF PLACES AVAILABLE IN THE OCCUPATIONAL GROUP IN WHICH HE IS APPLYING AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICANTS IN THAT GROUP. THE FEWER THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, THE HIGHER WILL BE THE CHANCE OF SUCCESS FOR THOSE APPLY," HE SAID.

WHO

THE

THEM

THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS UNDER SCHEME WOULD BE GRANTED FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP, WHICH ENTITLED TO ENTER FREELY INTO AND WITHIN THE UK WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION OF STAY OR IMMIGRATION CONDITION.

"PASSPORTS ISSUED UNDER THE SCHEME WILL BE FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS, AND WILL BE VALID FOR EC COUNTRIES JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BRITISH PASSPORT, HE SAID.

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"MORE IMPORTANTLY, SPOUSES AND CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WILL ALSO BE REGISTERED AS BRITISH CITIZENS AT THE SAME TIME, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN AGAIN EXPLAINED THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE SCHEME WAS TO ANCHOR PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BY GIVING THEM

AN INSURANCE POLICY WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO LIVE IN THE UK AT ALL.

"SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL HAVE ABSOLUTE FREEDOM ΤΟ CHOOSE WHETHER TO GO TO LIVE IN THE UK OR TO STAY IN HONG KONG.

"THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY.

"AND IF THEY STAY IN HONG KONG, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO OBLIGATION TO PAY UK TAXES, HE SAID.

ON APPLICATIONS UNDER THE ENTREPRENEURS CLASS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID ALTHOUGH MOST CANDIDATES WOULD BE INVITED TO APPLY, OTHERS WHO CONSIDERED THEMSELVES ELIGIBLE COULD ALSO APPLY ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE.

DESERVING CASES

AND

"WE ARE BOUND TO MISS OUT ON SOME VERY THESE PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR CASES KNOWN TO US BY PUTTING IN THEIR APPLICATIONS BEFORE FEBRUARY 28.'

"HOWEVER, THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO APPLY NEED NOT OBSERVE THIS DEADLINE AS INVITATIONS ARE BEING ISSUED IN BATCHES AND THE PERIOD FOR APPLICATION WILL BE SPECIFIED IN THE LETTERS, HE ADDED.

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THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MORE THAN 2,150 APPLICATION FORMS WERE RECEIVED IN THE PAST TWO DAYS.

"THERE IS JUST SLIGHTLY MORE THAN A WEEK BEFORE THE FEBRUARY 28 DEADLINE AND PEOPLE INTENDING TO APPLY SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, HE SAID.

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