212
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2337
OF 28O24OZ OCTOBER 85
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
INFO PRIORITY HKGO'S LONDON, WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, PEKING
MIPT : HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ACCEPTABILITY OF EN(0) PASSPORTS.
TEXT OF NEWS RELEASE IS AS FOLLOWS
BEGINS
U.S. WILL RECOGNIZE BN(0) PASSPORT
Ник
040/28.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
29 OCT 1985
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REUR:RY
Action Taken
U.S. VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AFFIRMED AT HIS OCTOBER 19 PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WILL RECOGNIZE THE
PROPOSED BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT. THE FOLLOWING
EXPLAINS THE BASIS FOR HIS AFFIRMATION.
THE U.S. CRITERIA FOR A PASSPORT ARE DEFINED IN SECTION 101(A)(30)
OF THE U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT:
''THE TERM ''PASSPORT' MEANS ANY TRAVEL DOCUMENT ISSUED BY A
COMPETENT AUTHORITY SHOWING THE BEARER'S ORIGIN, IDENTITY, AND
NATIONALITY IF ANY, WHICH IS VALID FOR THE ENTRY OF THE BEARER
INTO A FOREIGN COUNTRY.''
U.S. VISA REGULATIONS (22 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS 41.1) SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT A PASSPORT MAY CONSIST OF TWO OR MORE
DOCUMENTS WHICH, WHEN CONSIDERED TOGETHER, FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS
OF SECTION 101(A)(30) OF THE ACT.''
BN(0)*
THE CONSULATE'S UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE PLANNED
PASSPORT COMES INTO USE IN 1987 IT WILL BE VALID BY ITSELF FOR THE
ENTRY OF THE BEARER INTO HONG KONG. IN SUCH CASE THE BN(0) PASSPORT
WILL BY ITSELF MEET THE U.S. CRITERIA.
IF AT SOME FUTURE JUNCTURE THE AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG SHOULD
REQUIRE PRESENTATION OF BOTH THE BN (0) PASSPORT AND A HONG KONG
IDENTITY CARD FOR ENTRY INTO HONG KONG, THEN THE TWO DOCUMENTS
TOGETHER WOULD ALSO MEET U.S. CRITERIA. IN EITHER CASE, THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT WILL RECOGNIZE THE PROPOSED BN (0) PASSPORT.
ENDS.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RES D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY PUSD
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR MARTIN ASST STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER
CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
HKGO LE
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