7
CONFIDENTIAL
B
people in Hong Kong.
behind the need for
She said that the HMG could not shelter
agreement with the Chinese Government on
these points, which were all in HMG's gift. In light of this
strong reaction by Unofficials the Hong Kong Government has felt obliged to change its advice on these various subjects.
4.
On the points raised by Miss Dunn we will be taking the following action:
(a)
Acceptability of BN (O) passports:
We will be
reaffirming in the debate HMG's commitment to ensuring
the same access to third countries for BN (O) s
currently enjoyed by BDT s.
as
(b)
(c)
Endorsement in BN(O) passports:
The new compromise
("The
proposal put forward by the Hong Kong Government
holder of this passport does not require an entry
certificate or a vi sa to enter the UK as a bona fide
visitor") is not in
our view necessarily misleading, if
coupled with a note issued at the same time as the
passport explaining that the immigration status of BN (0)/BDTCs has not changed, and that in certain
circumstances it would be advisable to apply for entry certificates. Mr Renton will be discussing this with
Mr Waddington tomorrow with a view to seeing whether
something on these lines could be accepted.
Indians: Now that the Hong Kong Government no longer
feel that it would be divisive to grant British citizenship to the minority communities while denying it
to the majority of Chinese BDTC there is no strong FCO
reason to resist the granting of British citizenship to
this group.
There remain however strong immigration
reasons for resisting such a commitment, which could
turn ou t to be very open-ended. At present the Home
Office intend to hold firm.
CONFIDENTIAL