GPS 450 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2265
OF 21095OZ OCTOBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENHAL
TOP COPY
ник Oll
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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
217
2 1 OCT 1985
GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU OR PEKING HAVE ON THE DRAFT PARAGRAPHS WHICH FOLLOW. A REPLY BY 23RD OCTOBER 1985 WOULD BE HELPFUL.
''IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT AGREEMENT
(H) ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT
PA
49. IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, AS A RESULT OF REPRESENTATIONS FROM ALL PARTIES, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AGREED TO PRODUCE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON HONG KONG, AND TO LAY IT BEFORE THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH A REPORT IS TO KEEP PARLIAMENT INFORMED ON A REGULAR BASIS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG DURING THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO 1997. IT WILL THUS DEMONSTRATE THE CONTINUING INTEREST OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT IN THE FORTUNES AND PROGRESS OF HONG KONG. THE FIRST REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED AS A WHITE PAPER AND LAID BEFORE THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT IN DECEMBER. THE REPORT WILL BE LAID ALSO BEFORE THIS COUNCIL.
(D) BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT
43. OF CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC INTEREST ARE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT. BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS, WHO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG, AND WHO APPLY FOR THE PASSPORT BEFORE 1997 WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO USE IT AFTER THAT DATE. AS HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED, ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE FOR THESE PASSPORTS TO BE ISSUED WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 1987. THIS WILL ENABLE THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF ISSUING PASSPORTS FOR A TEN-YEAR VALIDITY PERIOD TO CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. IT WILL ALSO GIVE MAXIMUM TIME TO THIRD COUNTRIES TO GROW ACCUSTOMED TO THE NEW PASSPORTS. THE FORMAT OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT WILL BE SUCH THAT IT IS READILY IDENTIFABLE AS A DOCUMENT ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. THE BRITISH GOVRNMENT HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO DO THEIR UTMOST TO OBTAIN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THAT PASSPORT AND THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT THIS WILL BE ACCORDED.
CONFIDENTAL
144.