+1
[Para 10 as original draft]
DSR 11C
10. We shall be pursuing these questions with Hong Kong
and with Home Office officials and we shall prepare a submissio
to Ministers about the issue of BN (O) passports in Hong Kong
as soon as possible. A possible complication so far as
consulations with Hong Kong are concerned is that their
Immigration Department already acts on behalf of HMG in
issuing entry clearances for the UK. In doing so they
apply UK consular fees for these services but I understand
that the Hong Kong Government/retains the full amount of such
fees and is not required to account for the costs of providing
the service.
11. In view of all these considerations, it hardly seems
reasonable for Mr Hyde to request a reply to his letter
within a week. He is seeking to rush us. It is true
that the timing of the White Paper imposes a constraint but
the financial aspects do not need to have been cleared by
then.
I accordingly submit a draft reply from you to Mr Hyde
which goes as far as we can at present. The draft together.
with this minute, has been cleared with ECD(I), HKD and
Finance Department.
Separate submissions will follow on
the common
ommon format look-alike' and the arrangements for
Hong Kong.