Mr A C Cambridge
MVD
ONFIDENTIAL
Акко40 /8928
Colo
31)
1
FROM: A C Galsworthy
DATE: 27 March 1985
CC: Mr Burrows, Legal Advisers
Mr Grainger, Legal Advisers
Mr Partridge, NTD
Mr Barrington, AUS
;
HONG KONG : INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS)
(BNO) PASSPORTS
1.
Thank you for your minute of 20 March. I am grateful to you for
undertaking to keep us informed about developments over Visa
Abolition Agreements (VAA).
2.
The outcome of our forthcoming negotiations with the Netherlands
Government could have implications for the future of VAA's
generally. In this context, I assume from para 5 of your minute
that what we are seeking is the continuation of existing VAA's and
equal treatment within them for all British Nationals who currently
stand to benefit from them, irrespective of whether such persons
have the right of abode. in the
UK. Clearly a strong argument we
should deploy with the Netherlands
any other Government,
that all British Nationals covered by a VAA have the right of
thus no question of such persons
There
somewhere.
"non-returnable"
is
with or
is
abode
being
Al 1 BN (0) s will be returnable to Hong Kong.
on Hong Kong's future
is that
An important aspect of the agreement it provides for the right of abode in the future Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region of the PRC for those who are BDTCs by virtue
expect BN(0) passports,
There
We
when
is thus no question of countries
immigration policies
by allowing Hong Kong
same enjoy the
facilities as BN(0)s that they have
their fear,
make this point very
of
connection a
with Hong Kong.
issued, to refer to this.
compromising
their
Chinese to
BDTCS. I f this is
indeed.
must we
as
firmly
CONFIDENTIAL