TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 128

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A friend of mine was once approached by a person selling Canadian passports. For a fee of $C25,000, he would be willing to undertake his application. $C15,000 was to be paid up front; the balance only if the application succeeded. I happen to know a highly reputable firm of Canadian lawyers whose normal fee is under $C10,000--including almost all the work of framing and writing the business proposal! They claim they've never had a failure. In any case, there's a big difference between pro- fessional service for $C10,000, and someone who might simply pocket your $C15,000--and say sorry your application didn't succeed (that's if you ever saw him again!).

Places like Hong Kong and Taiwan attract charlatans by the 747-load. It's a case of caveat emptor: buyer beware. Before you employ any advisor--or pay him any money--ensure that you're satisfied he knows what he is talking about and can deliver what he promises (and one thing he cannot promise is that your appli- cation will succeed!). Interview him thoroughly. Remember, you are employing him--you are paying the money--and he who pays the piper calls the tune.

If possible, seek references from satisfied customers who've used this person's services before. (As a lawyer, he should not reveal any customer's name to you--but he should be willing to ask one or two of his previous clients if they will contact you or in some other way give proof of their satisfaction.)

Disadvantages of these passports

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The process of qualifying for citizenship in the countries we've discussed so far has one significant disadvantage: achieve permanent residency, you must live in that country for up to 5 years. Of course, if your major goal is to move to the USA, Canada, Australia or wherever, this is not a hindrance to your aims. Qualifying for citizenship becomes a secondary benefit of your primary goal.

If your primary aim is to achieve another national status, this residency period could be a price you are not willing or able to pay.

For example, you or your family may be able to mobilise SC100,000, but if you do not have the experience of running a business any proposal you put forward will have a lower chance of being accepted for that reason.

Secondly, moving to another country and another culture can be a severe emotional and economic wrench. It's been termed