BRIEF FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH MR LÍ KA-SHING ON 22 JULY
BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN
If raised
Line to take
1.
2.
Recognise the valuable contribution which Hong Kong businessmen can make to the United Kingdom by investment. But we cannot in law grant citizenship as a reward or as an honour. Anyone who wishes to become a British citizen must meet the requirements set out in the law. We have some flexibility, but we have no power to set these aside.
This means that applicants must have been granted settlement here (an immigration provision which we operate very flexibly for businessmen investing here) and they must have been here 5 years before they apply for citizenship. We will be flexible about the amount of time businessmen necessarily are out-of the country during the 5 year period but we must still be satisfied that the applicant has been here enough time to show
that he has genuinely made this country his home.
Background
3.
4.
A number of wealthy Hong Kong
businessmen in Mr Li's position would like to be given British citizenship
in return for substantial investment in this country.
This is not possible because all applicants for British citizenship must There meet the statutory requirements of the British Nationality Act 1981.
a reward or as an is no provision for granting British citizenship as honour. The two main requirements are that applicants for naturalisation should be free of immigration time restrictions (ie they should have been granted settlement here) on the date of their application; and that they should have been here on the date exactly 5 years before they apply.
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