At first glance, it sounds like a utopian dream. A Swiss entrepreneur envisions a new Hong Kong – built for refugees. Yet behind the scenes, negotiations to secure land at a confidential location are already well underway.
Kälin’s progress is largely thanks to his extensive network. It is no coincidence that he is known as the “Passport King.” As the driving force behind Henley & Partners, he has turned the firm into the world’s largest broker of citizenships and residency permits – “golden visas.” By his own account, the company has ties to governments in one out of every three countries worldwide. The second factor fueling Kälin’s project is the sharp escalation of the migration crisis, particularly in Europe. In just a decade, the number of displaced people worldwide has doubled to more than 100 million. Public frustration is mounting, giving anti-immigration parties a growing foothold across the globe.