Page
4
June 1997 except for practical reasons, in respect of children born in the first half of 1997.
BN (0)
But,
passport is understood and
so long as the accepted in third countries
-
and I have referred to
make every
seem to be
rather than
the British Government's commitment to
effort to secure
this
-
there would
At the same
advantage in introducing it earlier
later to those who wish to use it.
time, given that BDTC status will be retained up to 30 June 1997, it will obviously be possible for
those who wish to continue to travel on BDTC
passports until that date to do so.
Detailed
arrangements have, however, yet to be worked out.
8
00
Mrs Chow has also commented, and so too has
Mr CHEUNG Yan-lung, on the system of entry
certificates for the United Kingdom. I must emphasise that entry certificates are not visas for
the simple reason that a holder of a British Dependent Territories Citizen passport does not
require such an authority to enter
the United
Kingdom, even though he is subject to immigration control. Entry certificates are designed solely to facilitate immigration clearance at United Kingdom ports of entry, and DTC passport holders who choose
not to obtain such entry certificates are not
thereby debarred from entry. In other words, their
use is entirely optional. Furthermore, BDTCs who wish to use entry certificates and who have a a need
to visit the United
the United Kingdom frequently may obtain certificates which are valid for two years and may be used for multiple entry.
9
While still on passports and associated issues, perhaps I could comment on several points of detail which Mr Cheung has raised.
J