GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2426
OF 06075OZ NOVEMBER 85
INFO PRIORITY SINGAPORE
CONFIDENTIAL
PARA. 3 OF YOUR TELNO 1636: HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED :
ACCEPTABILITY OF BN(0) PASSPORTS: SINGAPORE.
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY BRIEFED THE COMMISSIONER SINGAPORE
UNOFFICIALLY TODAY ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOP THE ISSUE OF NEW BM(0)
PASSPORTS. HE EMPHASISED THE INFORMAL NATURE OF THE DISCUSSIONS
PENDING HMG'S FORMAL APPROACH TO THIRD COUNTRIES AFTER THE ORDER
IN COUNCIL HAD BEEN ENACTED (PROBABLY IN MID 1986). HE SAID HE
WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HAVE BEFORE THE LEGCO DEBATE IN EARLY
DECEMBER ANY UNOFFICIAL REACTIONS IN RESPECT OF POSSIBLE DIFFICULTY
OFFICIALS IN SINGAPORE MIGHT FORESEE OVER THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORTS.
2. THE COMMISSIONER SINGAPORE UNDERTOOK TO REPORT BACK ANY REACTIONS
FROM SINGAPORE. THE ONLY POSSIBLE PROBLEM HE COULD THINK OF AT
THE MOMENT WAS IN RESPECT OF REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS. HE ASKED
WHAT HELP COULD BE EXPECTED FROM BRITISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES.
HE THOUGHT THAT IF BN(0)5 OVERSTAYED IN LARGE NUMBERS AFTER 1997,
THIS COULD POSE A PROBLEM TO COUNTRIES WHOSE RESOURCES WERE NOT
GEARED TO HANDLING LARGE NUMBERS OF OVERSTAYERS.
3. IN REPLY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO ASSURE THE
COMMISSIONER THAT THE SAME REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS APPLYING TO
BDTCS WOULD APPLY TO BN (0)S UP TO 1997 AND THAT AFTER 1997 BN (0)S
OVERSTAYING IN SINGAPORE WOULD BE DEALT WITH BY BRITISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER BRITISH NATIONALS.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
D/HD PUSD
MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL