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CERTIFICATE OR NOT. WE DOUBT WHETHER THIS IS IN FACT TRUE.
BUT WHETHER IT IS OR NOT, THE ENTRY CERTIFICATE SYSTEM IS VOLUNTARY (WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS INCLUDING THOSE WHO COME TO WORK OR SETTLE IN THE UK) AND IT IS OPEN TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS
TO COME WITHOUT AN ENTRY CERTIFICATE IF THEY THINK HAVING ONE IS
OF NO VALUE. PRESUMABLY IF THERE IS A WIDESPREAD IMPRESSION THAT
HAVING ONE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE, THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL DO.
5.
TO SUM UP, IN OUR VIEW ABOLISHING ENTRY CERTIFICATES WOULD
NOT SECURE EASIER ENTRY TO THE UK FOR BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS, AND
IN THE END, BECAUSE IT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE ENTRY AT UK PORTS MORE
COMPLICATED, IT WOULD CREATE RATHER THAN REMOVE BITTERNESS. 6. FOR THESE REASONS WE WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT THE
UNOFFICIALS' SUGGESTION WITH THE HOME OFFICE. WE WOULD MUCH PREFER TO PRESS THE SUGGESTION THAT MULTIPLE ENTRY CERTIFICATES
OF LONGER OR EVEN INDEFINITE VALIDITY SHOULD BE GRANTED.
WHILE THE HOME OFFICE MAY WELL NOT BE AMENABLE TO SUCH A PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY CLEARANCE ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, AND WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT WE WOULD IN THE END BE ABLE TO PRODUCE RESULTS, IT WOULD AT LEAST BE SOMETHING WHICH WE THINK WOULD BRING A SOLID BENEFIT TO BN (0)
PASSPORT HOLDERS.
7. THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY PRELIMINARY VIEWS, AND IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR REACTIONS TO THEM. IF YOU AGREE WITH THEM
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR ADVICE ON HOW BEST TO PURSUE THE
MATTER WITH THE UNOFFICIALS CONCERNED.
HOWE
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SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
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