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It is unlikely that these passports which will be machine-readable and produced by computers, will be introduced by 1 July 1987 when the BN (0) status becomes available. Initially therefore, those applying for BN (0) status will be issued with the same passport as is issued at present by our posts to all British nationals.
As for issuing policy the House will appreciate that much work will have to be done in the preparing of application forms and explanatory leaflets setting out the options for those who wish to obtain BN(0) passports; it will not expect points of detail to have been resolved at this stage. It will however be the essential feature of passport issuing that as from 1 July 1987 BN(0) passports with full 10 year validity so taking them beyond 30 June 1997 will be issued to those who apply for them. Where people opt for BDTC (HK) passports they will be issued with passports restricted in validity to 30 June 1997 at which point they will lose that status. It will not be possible to carry at the same time both a BN (0) and a BDTC (UK) passport.
There will be a fee for the passport which will be set under the Consular Fees Act 1980. Save for variations caused by rates of currency exchange, the fee will be the same around the world.
If I may at this stage touch on one final passport point which, I know has been of some concern in Hong Kong and to Hon Members, which is the acceptability to third countries of the BN (0) passport. The concerns here are that we should seek to secure from third countries the same rights for BN (0)s as are at present available to BDTCs (HK) and that the BN (0) passport should impress other countries that the holder has a right of abode in Hong Kong so that the traveller has no problems at the ports. Her Majesty's Government has of course committed itself to doing all it can to secure the same access to other countries for BN (0)s as for BDTCs (HK) and the intention is to begin a round of explanation once the Order, with the House's approval, has been made in early 1976 and before the issue of passports in 1987. Informal discussions with a number of countries are already encouraging and the House will have noted the recent particularly helpful statement by Vice-President Bush that the United States would accept BN (0) passports and a helpful resolution passed by the EC Parliament.
The BN (0) passport will be endorsed to show the holder's right of abode in Hong Kong using the following formula: "Holder has a permanent Hong Kong identity card which states his right of abode in Hong Kong". Since we wish to issue passports with the normal 10 year validity but have no sovereignty over Hong Kong beyond 30 June 1997, it was important to agree an endorsement which was acceptable to the Chinese. The formula which has been agreed accords with the terms of the Joint Declaration that holders of new style permanent
/identity cards ...