MINISTER
OF STATE
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S CATE
LONDON SWIH 9AT
11.5 SEL
(1152
A to
Hae,
Thank you for your letter of 4 August suggesting that the Hong Kong residents are treated less favourably than others when seeking to establish a claim to admission here. I do not know where this story came from but it is quite untrue. It may help if I explain in some detail the position on the particular points you have raised.
Under the Immigration Rules, any overseas national who wishes to come here as a person of independent means must first apply to a British representative abroad for an entry clearance so that a decision can be made before he sets out. For an application to succeed the applicant must show that he has capital of at least £150,000 or an annual income of not less than £15,000, and that he will be able to maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants indefinitely without working. In addition he also needs to demonstrate either a close connection with the United Kingdom or that his admission is in the general interests of the United Kingdom. The Rules give two examples of what might constitute a close connection: the presence of close relatives here or periods of previous residence. There are of course other factors which might meet this requirement provided that they do amount to a close personal connection with this country. In order to meet the general interests requirement an applicant would need to show that he was a person of international standing in his own field, whether artistic, social, political or economic and that his presence here would reflect well on the United Kingdom. Alternatively if an applicant had at least £500,000 and undertook to transfer this sum to the United Kingdom we would normally take the view that this demonstrated his admission was in the general interests of the United Kingdom. The provisions for the admission of persons of independent means have not changed significantly for a number of years and I can assure you that all applications, whether from Hong Kong citizens or others are considered equally on their merits.
You raised the question of the four year residence requirement before a person of independent means can be granted settlement here. The Rules say quite clearly that a person admitted under the independent means provisions must stay here for four years before
/cont...
HD Miller Esq MP
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