TNAG-2637-FCO40-3829-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Steering-Committee-on-British-Nationalit-1992 — Page 75

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7.

For those people who hold less popular passports such as those issued by Singapore, Malaysia and India, the Governor has decided to deal with them on a case by case basis. They are normally required to renounce their foreign citizenship before the Governor is prepared to recommend them. As regards those candidates who hold passports from countries such as Mauritius and the Dominican Republic, the Governor has decided to recommend their registration without requiring them to give up these passports.

8.

Many of the potential candidates have been left out of the existing lists because they hold "good quality" passports. Furthermore, some 36 of the candidates on the existing lists who meet the existing investment criteria have been found to hold "good quality" passports upon enquiry. Two of them have indicated that they would not wish to pursue British nationality, and another two (who hold Canadian passports) have been informed of the Governor's ruling. Among the remaining 32, 14 of them hold British Citizen passports, and the remaining hold Canadian, US, Portuguese, Australian and French passports. There are also 3 uninvited EC applicants who hold "good quality" passports.

9.

It is likely that some of those who hold "good quality" passports are prepared to give them up in order to acquire British citizenship for a variety of reasons such as for the benefit of their spouses and/or children or for tax planning purposes. The argument against inviting people who holds "good quality" passports is that since they already have the assurance of highly desirable passports, they should not take up the limited number of places available under the British Nationality Scheme. However, if these people indicate their preference for a British Citizen passport to their other passports, it can be argued that a British Citizen passport will provide them with a greater degree of assurance which will encourage them to stay and contribute to the economy of Hong Kong. A case therefore can be made to invite candidates who meet the investment

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