DARK,
CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Telephone 01-
File. HKK 040/28.
-3 JUN 1985
i 233 3722
(60)
JF Nicholson Esq
Home Office Passport Department
Clive House
70-78 Petty France
LONDON
SW1H 9HD
Zear Jim,
3/410
noted 616.
days
4
Your reference
Our reference
3 June 1985
Date
HONG KONG: BN (0) STATUS: PASSPORTS MATTERS
Memorandum
(57)
1. We spoke about Hong Kong telno 980 which can be fully understood only in the context of the Executive Council (EXCO)
to which it refers. A copy of this is enclosed.
EXCO have endorsed, with modifications, the views expressed in Hong Kong telno 603. The key points are as follows:
CREATION OF BN (0) STATUS
!
2.
3.
EXCO would like HMG to agree to create BN (0) effect from 1 July 1987. This would:
status with
(a)
(b)
give Hong Kong BDTCs, as from 1 July 1987 a choice between
and BDTC passports with BN (0) passports valid for 10 years, progressively shorter period of validity;
enable third countries, at an early stage, to become with the new
the passports and
implications of BN (0)
(c) reduce administrative burdens in Hong Kong.
FEES
a
familiar
status;
of the
4. You wil1 see that Hong Kong do not intend to charge any fee for registration as BN (0). They will charge only the normal passport fee. Item (j) of Hong Kong telno 603 suggests that these proposals will require an amendment to Section 42(1)(b) (i) BNA 1981. It also refers to the regulations under which Hong Kong charge fees for registration/naturalisation and the issue of passports. Copies of these documents, which you asked for in your letter of 11 January to Richard Hoare are
enclosed.
25
CONCURRENT RETENTION OF BDTC AND BN (0) PASSPORTS 5. We explained in para 3 of our telno 393 to Hong Kong that there could be no question of allowing persons to hold BDTC and BN(0) passports concurrently. However EXCO have pointed out that this may
in fact be necessary at the approach of 1997 eg to take account of unexpired visas.
to be a valid point. suitable arrangement could be made to take
Presumably,
some
This
to me seems
CONFIDENTIAL