British investments are under close scrutiny. Among the 21 countries considered at risk by the British government is Mauritius.

Marc Hein, founder and chairman of the board of Directors of Jurisconsult, points out that Britain now has its own list to determine the countries at risk in the face of transactions related to money laundering and terrorist financing.

"Transactions with companies incorporated in our jurisdiction will suffer from enhanced due diligence. This means extensive research into the source and destination of the funds or the people or companies behind these transactions or even investments," he said.

Submitted to Parliament by the British Treasury Department on 25 March, this regulation allows Britain to decide alone in all discretion which countries to penalise.

Observers see the British government's position as a way of pillorying Mauritius after the diplomatic campaign to denounce its intransigent attitude in the Chagos case.