TNAG-1844-FCO40-2619-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 146

CTWAFW

3.

Different Categories Qualifying for Entry to Britain for

Settlement

All Hong Kong BDTCs/BN (0)s are welcome to come to Britain as visitors. They do not require visas or entry clearance certificates for visits of up to three months.

Certain other categories of people may be granted entry to Britain for more than three months.:

(a)

people wishing to study here, who do require entry clearance

certificates;

(b)

business men or self-employed persons may be admitted to this country provided they are willing to invest at least £150,000 in a

The business in the UK in a way which is likely to create two jobs. income from the business should be capable of supporting them and their dependents without their having to take alternative

employment;

(c)

those with special skills and experience may be eligible to come to this country to take specific jobs for which no locally qualified people are available, under work permit arrangements operated by the Department of Employment;

(a) there are also certain very limited categories of people (eg sole representatives of overseas firms) who can come to this country to work without a work permit;

(e) those with certain specialised manual skills (eg as a cook) may be eligible to come to this country under a scheme for workers from the Dependent Territories operated by the Department of Employment Hong Kong may take up to 150 of global annual quota of 200.

Persons admitted to this country to work in each of these categories (except students) can apply for settlement after four years' residence in this country, and for citizenship after five years. Once settlement has been granted there are of course no restrictions on employment.

/Cont.