TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 124

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The purpose of the government bond is to ensure that you have sufficient income to maintain yourself without becoming a ward of the state. The requirement of a property purchase is to ensure you have somewhere to live. The program is really designed to attract retirees from the United States who will bring cash into the Costa Rican economy without competing for jobs. Any offshore income is, therefore, not taxed.

Costa Rica is, indeed, a rather attractive and very cheap place to live. If you would like more information, I have available a report written by Jerome F Smith, an investment adviser who lives in Costa Rica, entitled "How to Enjoy a Luxurious Retirement on $US2,000 a Month. The cost of this document is $US78.00.

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Unlike the three countries mentioned above, the assets you must invest in Costa Rica remain your property. However, due to Costa Rica's external debt problems, people who have left Costa Rica are having great difficulty in getting their deposit refunded from the government.

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Mauritius

I understand that the government of Mauritius is planning to offer citizenship in return for a sum of $US50,000. Unlike the first three countries mentioned above, this is not "dead money" but an interest-free loan. The sum would be repaid over seven years--without interest. But repayment would be guaranteed by one or more multinational American or European banks.

A Taiwanese, non-resident passport

The cheapest passport available is a non-resident Taiwanese passport. It costs $HK80 and can be arranged through Chung Hwa Travel Service, 1st floor, Takshing House, Des Voeux Rd Central, Hong Kong.

This passport is available to anyone of Chinese nationality, but it's of very limited use. It does not give the holder the right to reside in Taiwan--or to even enter Taiwan without a visa! It can be used for travel, but the holder of a Hong Kong British passport faces fewer restrictions than the holder of a Taiwanese passport.

I can only discover one significant use for a non-resident Taiwanese passport: the holder of this passport can qualify for the United States E-visa--the "treaty trader" visa; the holder of a Hong Kong British passport or Certificate of Identity cannot.

HAN FIN.