• The Bermuda Government says it brought the Uighurs here under section 25 of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956. The Act states that only the following people can be landed here to "remain or reside": those possessing Bermudian status; anyone deemed to be a "special category person", such as military personnel; a bona fide visitor to Bermuda; a permanent resident. The section says: "The Minister, in his discretion, may dispense with the requirements imposed." Attorney General Kim Wilson interprets this proviso to mean that the Immigration Minister has absolute discretion to allow anyone to land here and stay indefinitely.

• Governor Sir Richard Gozney cites section 62 of the Bermuda Constitution as the reason why Bermuda did not have the power to bring the Uighurs here without the UK's permission. The section states that the Governor is solely responsible for external affairs, unless he delegates that authority to the Premier or any other Minister.

• Under the Immigration and Protection Act, to apply for Bermudian status a person must be a Commonwealth citizen who has been ordinarily resident in Bermuda for the last ten years and has a qualifying Bermudian connection. Spouses of Bermudians who have been married for ten years and have lived in Bermuda for the last seven years can also apply.

• According to the UK Border Agency, to apply to be naturalised as a British citizen, a person must have been living on British soil for the last five years (or three years if they are married to or a civil partner of a British citizen). To be recognised as a refugee by Britain, an asylum seeker must have left their own country and be unable to go back because of a well-founded fear of persecution. In 2007, 19 out of every 100 people who applied for asylum were recognised as refugees and given asylum. Another nine out of every 100 who applied for asylum but did not qualify for refugee status were given permission to stay for humanitarian or other reasons. Bermuda's laws have no provision for asylum seekers or refugees.