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managed businesses involving capital sums of less than S$1 million provided the project is approved by the Economic Development Board (EDB). We believe (but cannot be sure) that some people from Hong Kong have acquired PR in this way.
4. The Singaporeans say that some 21,000 heads of household have thus far been granted approval in principle for permanent residence under the AIP PR scheme, and that a total of 4,700 heads of household have actually taken up PR under all the various schemes since 1989. I suspect, although the MFA maintain that there is no formal arrangement, that the discretionary scheme mooted in Sir David Wilson's teleletter of 9 January 1990 - on which BG Yeo subsequently qualified the position (our telno 33 of 23 January) is subsumed in this figure.
King
5. As a footnote, you might be interested to see the attached figures which show the rise in applications for renunciation, processed by our Consular Section, of British Dependent Territories Citizenship by people from Hong Kong, Renunciation of existing citizenship is a requirement for obtaining Singapore citizenship. We understand from the Singapore authorities that, while the conditions for citizenship vary according to the qualifications and background of applicants, they can apply after two years' formal status as a permanent resident. As far as we know, most of those who have renounced BDTC stay on in Singapore, but it seems quite likely that at least some might be taking out "insurance" by obtaining their Singapore citizenship and then returning to Hong Kong on the basis of their permanent identity cards, which we understand the Hong Kong authorities allow them to retain despite having renounced BDTC status.
Your
ever
Howard Docke
HR DRAKE
FIRST SECRETARY
(POLITICAL/COORDINATION)
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