TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 5

ZCZC

MILNAN 4587 OCMIAN 4587

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 2201UOZ HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

211600Z MAR

GRS 759

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FM FCO

TO DESKBY 220100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 546

OF 211600Z MARCH 86

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24587

1

HMM OCOTEK

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 4 MAR 1986

DER OFFICER

REGISTRY

IND

PA

azteen Taken

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM LAYDEN

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP: REQUEST BY HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN

1.

MICHAEL SANDBERG SAW THE HOME SECRETARY ON 20 JANUARY AND

THE PRIME MINISTER ON 21 JANUARY. HE RAISED WITH BOTH THE

QUESTION OF 4 OR 5 VERY WEALTHY HONG KONG CHINESE WHO WISH TO

ACQUIRE BRITISH PASSPORTS, AND ARE PREPARED TO INVEST

SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BUT DO NOT WISH TO RESIDE IN

THE UK FOR THE PERIOD NECESSARY TO GIVE THEM AN ENTITLEMENT TO

REGISTER AS BRITISH CITIZENS, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO

LIVE IN HONG KONG AND MANAGE THEIR INVESTMENTS THERE. SANDBERG

SAID IT SEEMED ABSURD FOR THE UK TO FOREGO THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE

INVESTMENT ON A TECHNICALITY.

2.

NO 10 SOUGHT ADVICE ON THE QUESTION, AND THE HOME OFFICE

WROTE TO NO 10 ON 13 MARCH SAYING THAT THE HOME SECRETARY DOES

NOT THINK IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR HIM TO USE HIS POWERS IN THE WAY

MR SANDBERG HAS SUGGESTED. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE

INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED ARE BDTCS, THEN UNDER THE 1981 BNA, THEY

HAVE AN ENTITLEMENT TO REGISTER AS BRITISH CITIZENS IF THEY HAVE

LIVED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 5 YEARS AND IF THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO

ANY RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR STAY, WHICH MEANS IN EFFECT THAT THEY

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