CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
successful introduction of BN (0) status to confidence in
Hong Kong and to ask for an act of political will from
the countries concerned.
3. The enclosed copies of the circulars which we issued
before the BNA (1981) came into force give the flavour of
what we have in mind. Our note in this case would of
course be shorter. We envisage the main points as
being:
(a) BN (0) passports will clearly show that their holders
have the right of abode in Hong Kong and will have the
right of abode in the Hong Kong SAR after 1 July 1997;
(b)
Holders of BN (0) passports issued before 1 July 1997
will in practice have both BN (0) and BDTC status until
that date;
(c) The only significant difference between BN (0) and
BDTC status, other than the name, will be that the former
will not be transmissible by descent;
(d) it is crucially important to confidence in Hong Kong
and thus to the success of the agreement that overseas
governments give BN (0) passport holders the same rights
of access to their country as they give to BDTC passport
holders.
CONFIDENTIAL