4. SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF MINISTERS, AGREEMENT HAS ALSO BEEN
REACHED ON THE TEXT OF THE UK/CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT. IT HAS BEEN
SUGGESTED TO THE CHINESE THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SECRETARY
OF STATE TO SIGN THE UK/CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT DURING HIS FORTH-
COMING VISIT TO PEKING. BECAUSE OF THE LINK WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE
ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE TWO ISSUES, THIS WOULD REQUIRE AGREEMENT
TO DE REACHED ON THE EXCHANGE OF NOTES ABOUT THE VISA OFFICE, WHICH
IN TURN WOULD REQUIRE THE EMBASSY TO NEGOTIATE SOME DETAILED
AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXT OF THE LATTER.
(A COPY OF THE LATEST CHINESE DRAFT, INCORPORATING THE AMENDMENTS WHICH THE EMBASSY ARE INSTRUCTED TO SECURE, IS AT ANNEX A).
AN INDICATION FROM HONG KONG THAT WE WILL NOT INSIST THAT PASSPORTS
ISSUED BY THE VISA OFFICE SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY THEM DIRECT TO
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR FINAL AGREEMENT TO BE
REACHED. ON THIS SEE PARAGRAPHS 5 TO 7 BELOW.
REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS
5. IN DISCUSSION ON 16 AND 29 MARCH OF MEMORANDA XCC|(83)16 AND
XCC(83)19 MEMBERS CONSIDERED THE SEPARATE QUESTION OF ARRANGEMENTS
FOR MONITORING REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS WHICH THE VISA OFFICE ARE
TO DE ALLOWED TO ISSUE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. MEMBERS ADVISED THAT
THE VISA OFFICE SHOULD NOTIFY TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT DETAILS OF
ALL PASSPORTS ISSUED WHEN THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS COME INTO FORCE. IN
PURSUIT OF THIS OBJECTIVE, A PROPOSAL WAS MADE BOTH TO THE MINISTRY
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN PEKING AND TO THE VISA OFFICE BY THE
DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION TO SECURE A SUITABLE ARRANGEMENT. SINCE THE
VISA OFFICE IS TO BE RESTRICTED TO ISSUING REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS TO HOLDERS OF PRC PASSPORTS WHICH ARE LOST, STOLEN, FULL OR EXPIRED, ANY
REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS WOULD IN ANY CASE HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR RENEWAL OF ENDORSEMENT, WITHOUT WHICH
THE HOLDER WOULD BE UNABLE TO LEAVE HONG KONG. IT WAS PROPOSED
THEREFORE THAT THE VISA OFFICE SHOULD ITSELF SUBMIT ALL SUCH PASS-
PORTS TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR RENEWAL OF ENDORSEMENT BEFORE
ISSUING TO THE APPLICANTS. THIS WOULD HAVE ENABLED THE IMMIGRATION
DEPARTMENT TO KEEP A RECORD OF ALL REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS ISSUED
WHILE MINIMISING THE RISK THAT THE HOLDERS OF SUCH PASSPORTS WOULD
ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES ON DEPARTURE.
6. BOTH THE MFA IN PEKING AND THE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG DECLINED
TO AGREE TO SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT? THEIR PRINCIPAL OBJECTION APPEARS
TO BE THAT NO SIMILAR REQUIREMENT IS IMPOSED ON ANY OTHER PASSPORT
ISSUING POST IN HONG KONG (WHICH IS TRUE). BOTH THE MFA AND THE
VISA OFFICE HAVE SAID THAT THE NEW PASSPORT HOLDERS WOULD BE ADVISED
TO APPLY IMMEDIATELY TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR RENEWAL OF
ENDORSEMENT: IF THEY FAILED TO DO SO AND GOT INTO DIFFICULTIES AS
A RESULT THIS WOULD BE THEIR FAULT.
CONFIDENTIAL ---
17.AN