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Chinese Buying Way to Freedom with New Money
BEIJING -- "They're all millionaires. They've made it," said Mikael Charette of the thousands of wealthy Chinese -- his clients -- who apply to emigrate to Canada every year on that country's investment immigration program. While most immigrants are admitted on the basis of sought-after skills or to reunite families, investment immigration, in which applicants make a minimum financial investment or create jobs in their destination, is also booming. So much so that Canada, excluding Quebec, temporarily halted its program in June in order to double the amount that would-be immigrants must invest to qualify. Joy Xi emigrated to Canada nearly a decade ago. When I asked why people leave, despite rising prosperity in China, her answer was swift: "Sanlu," the company notorious for producing melamine-laced milk powder that killed six babies and sickened hundreds of thousands more in 2008. Few believe the problem is over. Also, said Ms. Xi, China is growing richer, but it's also growing more unequal, and that makes the rich feel unsafe. Summing up how many Chinese think, she cited a widespread saying: "Life in China is too risky. Consider carefully where you want to be reborn in your next life." No dummies, they. Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-08-07 |
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