GRO 400
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 24130OZ FCO
TELNO 2311
OF 24104OZ OCTOBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, OTTAWA.
HKK
0+0/28
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
29 OCT 1985
120+
DES
INDEX
FFICER
THY
PA
Acton Taken
心
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ACCEPTABILITY OF BM(0) PASSPORTS.
1. THERE IS STILL INTENSE MEDIA INTEREST HERE IN THE DNO PASSPORT
AND ITS CONNECTION WITH THE NEW 1.D. CARD AND CORRESPONDENTS ARE
LIKELY TO PROBE CLOSELY ON THESE ISSUES AT MR RCNTON'S PRESS
CONFERENCE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE SHOULD BE READY TO GIVE CLEAR
ANSWERS ON THREE PARTICULAR ISSUES.
2. THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) FIRST IS THAT HE MUST BE ABLE TO SAY
THAT HMG IS DOING ITS BEST TO GET THE WORDING OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT CLEARED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE DEBATES ON THE WHITE PAPER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IN PARLIAMENT (SEE FIRST MIFT ON WHAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THIS END). AS MR LUCE STATED IN THE BEBATE ON THE HONG KONG BILL, THE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL NEED USE HIS PASSPORT - AND NOT HAVE TO SUPPLY AND ID CARD ONLY TO SATISFY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS IN THIRD COUNTRIES THAT HE HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG,'
1
3. THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) SECOND POINT CONTAINS THE ACCEPTABILITY OF NBN(0) PASSPORTS IN THE UK. IT WILL BE MOST IMPORTANT THAT MR. RENTON IS IN A POSITION TO SAY CATEGORICALLY THAT BOTH UP TO AND BEYOND 1997 BN(0) PASSPORTS WILL BE AS ACCEPTABLE IN THE UK AS BDTC PASSPORTS ARE NOW, AND THE SAME RULES WILL APPLY TO BOTH. IF, AC IS LIKELY, THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF ENTRY IS RAISED, WE SUGGEST THE STANDARD REPLY THAT FOR 3DTCS VISITING THE UK CERTICICATES OF ENTRY ARE NOT (NOT) OBLIGATORY. NOR WILL THEY BE OBLIGATORY FOR 2N(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS.
4. THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) THIRD ISSUE IS THE POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CANADIANS (YOUR TELNO 2264). IF THESE DIFFICULTIES BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE (AS THEY WELL MIGHT) MA. RENTON WILL NEED TO BE IN A POSITION TO SAY THAT HMG IS AWAPE OF POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE CANADIANS: THAT HE BELIEVES THESE ARE NOT INSUPERABLE: AND THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS IN TOUCH WITH THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT THEM (SEE MY SECOND IFT)
YOUDE
206
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