37. THE UK GOVERNMENT HAVE CIVEN UNDERTAKINGS DURING THE HONG KONG
DEBATE AND DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE HONG KONG ACT THAT THEY WIL
DO ALL THEY CAN TO SECURE, FOR EN(3) PASSPORT HOLDERS, THE SAME
ACCESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS THAT ENJOYED AT PRESENT BY HOLDERS OF
3DTC PASSPORTS. THE UK GOVERNMENT WILL COMMENCE APPROACHING THIRD
COUNTRIES TO EXPLAIN THE NEW BN (0) STATUS AND TO SEEK TO ENSURE
THAT ENTRY AGREEMENTS (INCLUDING VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS) WHICH
APPLY TO HONG KONG BDTCS WILL APPLY TO BN(0)S AFTER THE ORDER IN
COUNCIL HAS BEEN MADE BY APRIL/MAY NEXT YEAR.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF EN(0) PASSPORTS BEING ACCEPTED BY THIRD
COUNTRIES?
38. A LOT OF COUNTRIES HAVE SHOWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE SINO-BRITISH
JOINT DECLARATION. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAVE IN JULY THIS YEAR
PASSED RESOLUTIONS TO ENCOURAGE MEMBER STATES TO ABOLISH VISA
REQUIREMENTS FOR BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS VISITING THEIR COUNTRIES.
THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BE CONFIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE
OF BN(C) PASSPORTS.
WILL BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS HAVE TO CARRY WITH THEM THEIR IDENTITY
CARDS WHEN THEY TRAVEL ABROAD?
39. AS BN (0) PASSPORTS WILL BE ENDORSED TO SHOW THAT THE HOLDER
POSSESSES A HONG KONG PERMANENT IDENTITY CARD AS EVIDENCE OF HIS RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR BN(0)
PASSPORT HOLDERS TO CARRY THEIR IDENTITY CARDS WITH THEM TO SATISFY
IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES OF THIRD COUNTRIES OF THEIR RETURNABILITY
TO HONG KONG. BUT AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM AT
IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS, THE CARRYING OF HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS WILL FACILITATE THE HOLDER'S MOVEMENT IN AND OUT OF HONG KONG.
WHEN WILL THE GOVERNMENT START ISSUING THE NEW PERMANENT IDENTITY
CARDS?
40. THE GOVERNMENT INTEND TO ISSUE NEW TYPES OF IDENTITY CARDS WHEN
BN(0) PASSPORTS ARE ISSUED, 1.E. WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 1987. THOSE WHO HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG WILL BE ISSUED WITH
PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS STATING RIGHT OF ABODE WHILE OTHERS WHO
DO NOT HAVE RIGHT OF ABODE WILL BE ISSUED WITH ORDINARY IDENTITY
CARDS NOT STATING THE RIGHT OF ABODE.
WHAT WILL BE THE VALIDITY PERIOD AND FORMAT OF THE NEW PERMANENT
IDENTITY CARDS?
41. THESE ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE
IN DUE COURSE.
WILL BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS HAVE PERMANENT HK IDENTITY CARDS?
CONFIDENMAL
142.