JALAPD
Dr Wilson
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM:
A C GAL SWORTHY, HKD
DATE: 20 February 1986
HKK
040/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 5FEB 1986
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY Acton Taken
260
BN (O) PASSPORT FEES
1.
on
We have been trying to reach agreement with the Treasury
the financial arrangements connected
the with
issue of
passports since last August. Finance Departmewn t are
BN (O)
in the lead.
2.
In August last year Hong Kong suggested that they bear the costs of producing and issuing passports to BN (O) s and
retain the balance between this and the fee to be charged
under the Consular Fees Order (currently £15). This is
similar to the arrangement
for the issue of BDTC passports
now, although Hong Kong set their own fee
be will
BN (0)
passport fees
for these
passports.
set under the
Consular Fees Order because they will be i issued in the name
of the Secretary of State and also to
provide continuity
after 1997.
A
3. A problem arose, however, when Finance Department
pointed out that from 1 April 1986 all Consular Fees must be
surrendered to the Exchequer as Consolidated Fund Extra
Receipts (CFERS). Finance Department discussed this with the Treasury who replied in September last year that Hong
Kong could retain their administrative costs but that the
as CFERS. (The cost to Hong
"profit" must be
surrendered
i s passports
in
forty
the
fee
issuing
This means that
the Hong Kong Government would be £7 per BN (0)
percent of
sterling terms, the profit
Kong
of
charged.
accruing to
passport.
Their
current profit
which they charge £20, is £12.)
on a BD TC
passport,
BN(0)
for
CONFIDENTIAL