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CONFIDENTIAL
HOW DOES STATUS DIFFER FROM BOC?
9. It is not intended that there should be any major differences
under UK law between holders of the proposed BN (O) status and the
existing BOC status.
[IF PRESSED]
Descendants
of BOCS
ma y
certain circumstances.
acquire BOC status by registration in
BN (O) may not be acquired after 1997.
WILL BN(O) PASSPORTS STATE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG?
10.
Yes. A statement to this effect will be entered by HMG with
respect to the period before 1997. As laid down in Section XIV of
Annex I to the Joint Declaration, we shall after 1997 be able to
state that the holder of the passport holds a permanent SAR identity
card which is evidence of his right of abode in the SAR.
NEED TO CARRY SAR IDENTITY CARD AS WELL AS BN (O) PASSPORT?
11. The Government will be discussing with Chinese authorities the wording of a statement to be included in BN (O) passports. The aim
will be to ensure that an individual need make use only of his
passport, without also having to provide his identity card, to
satisfy immigration officials of third countries that he has the right of abode in Hong Kong.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF SAR AND NEW-STYLE PASSPORTS?
12. The Government have undertaken to make every effort to explain
arrangements to third countries.
This will be done between
for third countries
enactment of Order in Council and issue of BN (O) passports. Given
clear indication of right of abode, no
introduce new restrictions on entry of BN (O) passport holders.
reason
to
WILL NEW PASSPORTS BE ISSUED BEFORE 1997? WILL THEY RUN IN PARALLEL
WITH OLD PASSPORTS?
But will be issued well before 1997. At the
13. No decision yet.
same time, BDTC status will
period during which BDTC
concurrently.
rema in
and
up to 30 June
June 1997. Will be
BN (O) status will be held
CONFIDENTIAL