英國創業移民簽證吸引中國公民
Britain proved to be a growing attraction for business investors from China last year, with the number of entrepreneur visas issued to Chinese nationals more than doubling to 116.
英國證明對中國企業投資者的吸引力越來越大，去年該國向中國公民發放的創業移民簽證增長一倍多，至116份。The visas allow holders to start a UK business and earn fast-track citizenship.
創業移民簽證持有人可以在英國創辦企業，並通過快速通道獲得英國公民身份。This compares with an annual rise of 13 per cent to 127 for US nationals, according to figures obtained by law firm Pinsent Masons for the Financial Times.
品誠梅森律師事務所(Pinsent Masons)向英國《金融時報》提供的數據顯示，英國去年向美國公民發放的創業移民簽證同比增長13%，至127份。
The news comes as David Cameron prepares to visit Beijing in early December, when he is expected to say Britain is open to Chinese investment. It also supports growing evidence that the Chinese are becoming a stronger business influence in the UK, with stakes in Heathrow, Manchester’s “Airport City” and in Thames Water.
上述消息傳出之際，英國首相戴維?卡梅倫(David Cameron)計劃於12月初訪問北京，預計屆時他會表示，英國將打開大門歡迎中國投資。該消息也佐證了一個日益明顯的跡象，即中國人在英國的商業影響力正變得越來越大——中國人在希思羅機場(Heathrow)、曼徹斯特機場“空港城”以及泰晤士水務(Thames Water)都擁有權益。Entrepreneur visas allow foreign nationals to gain UK citizenship if their business fulfils criteria on access to funding, job creation or other measures of success. If, after three years, visa holders can demonstrate they have created 10 permanent jobs in the UK or generated income of at least ￡5m, they will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
持有英國創業移民簽證的外國公民獲得英國公民身份的條件是，他們的企業在資金、創造就業或其他成功衡量標準上達標。簽證持有人如果在3年後可以證明他們在英國創造了10個永久性工作崗位，或者產生了至少500萬英鎊的收入，就能夠申請永久居留。The total number of entrepreneur visas rose 87 per cent to 973 in 2012-13, up from 520 in 2011-12 and 293 the year before.
英國在2012-13年度發放的創業簽證總數增長87%，至973份，高於2011-12年度的520份和2010-11年度的293份。“Twenty years ago, the dream for young professionals from China and other emerging markets was to get a ‘Green Card’ to work on Wall Street or Silicon Valley,” said Jill Turner, head of corporate immigration at Pinsent Masons.
品誠梅森律所的創業移民主管吉爾?特納(Jill Turner)表示：“20年前，來自中國和其他新興市場的年輕專業人士的夢想是獲得在華爾街或硅谷工作的‘綠卡’。”“But London is now seen as just as exciting. Ambitious and talented Chinese entrepreneurs are flooding to the UK to take advantage of the opportunities being created by the economic recovery here, especially in .?.?. sectors such as technology, pharmaceuticals and financial services.”
“但如今他們認爲倫敦同樣令人振奮。雄心勃勃且具有天賦的中國企業家正大量涌入英國，以利用英國經濟復甦帶來的機遇，尤其是在……科技、製藥和金融服務等領域。”Ms Turner said the visas were popular because Britain was one of the fastest-growing economies, with an annualised growth rate of more than 3 per cent, making it an attractive place to start a business.
特納表示，創業移民簽證之所以受到歡迎，是因爲英國是增長最爲快速的經濟體之一，年化增長率超過3%，這使得英國成爲一個極具吸引力的創業地點。Julie Wilson, who is head of the China desk at UHY Hacker Young, an accountancy firm, said Chinese investors were coming to London because they saw it as the centre of Europe.
UHY Hacker Young會計師事務所的中國部門主管朱莉?威爾遜(Julie Wilson)表示，中國投資者來到倫敦是因爲他們認爲這裏是歐洲的中心。“If they want to work outside China, the first stop is Europe. Often those applying for these visas are young graduates who want to import the family businesses into the UK,” she said.
她說道：“如果他們希望在中國以外的地區工作，首選地就是歐洲。申請此類簽證的人往往是那些希望將家族企業引進英國的年輕畢業生。”Other observers said one reason for the increase was last year’s closure of a visa scheme that allowed international students to stay on and work in the UK after their course had finished.
其他觀察人士表示，創業移民簽證數量增加的一個原因是，去年英國終止了允許國際學生在完成學業後留在英國工作的簽證項目。
