GRS 400 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL TOP COPY
unn 04014
RECEIVED
-GISTRY
19 FEB 1986
DESK OFFICER
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 536
OF 190855Z FEBRUARY 86
INDEX
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
REGISTRY
OPA
Action Taken
268
YOUR TELNO 1974 (1985) HONG KONG AGREEMENT PASSPORTS.
*
NATIONALITY
-
1. OUR ESTIMATE (MADE IN NOVEMBER LAST) THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE NO MORE THAN A FEW THOUSAND APPLICATIONS FOR BN (0) PASSPORTS IN THE FIRST YEAR WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT MANY HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD HESITATE TO OPT FOR BN(0) STATUS SO FAR IN ADVANCE OF 1997 UNLESS IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE BN (0) PASSPORT WAS AT LEAST AS
CONVENIENT AS THE BDTC PASSPORT.
2. NOW THAT WE HAVE CHINESE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT, AND THE PROSPECT OF HOME OFFICE AGREEMENT TO AN ENDORSEMENT ABOUT VISA-FREE ACCESS TO BRITAIN BY VISITORS, THE BN (0) PASSPORT MAY WELL BE SEEN AS AN ATTRACTIVE DOCUMENT. MUCH WILL DEPEND ON THE SUCCESS OF HMG 4N SELLING ITS VIRTUES AFTER THE FORTHCOMING DEBATE ON THE NATIONALITY ORDER-IN-COUNCIL.
3. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ORDERING PASSPORT STOCKS (AND WE NORMALLY HOLD STOCK TO MEET 9 MONTHS DEMAND), WE ARE ASSUMING THAT DEMAND FOR PASSPORTS IN THE FIRST YEAR (FROM JULY 1987) WILL BE EVENLY DIVIDED BETWEEN BDTC AND BN(0). ON THIS BASIS DEMAND FOR BN (0) PASSPORTS WOULD BE APPROX 96,000 IN THAT PERIOD. WE PROPOSE TO PLACE ORDERS IN DUE COURSE THROUGH THE CROWN AGENTS, THE NORMAL CHANNEL OF SUPPLY.
4. CARTER HAS REPORTED THE GIST OF HIS CONVERSATION (WITH HKD) THAT THE TREASURY IS STILL SEEKING TO MAKE A WINDFALL PROFIT ON THE ISSUE OF BN (0) PASSPORTS, BY (AS WE UNDERSTAND HT) REQUIRING HKG TO REMIT PASSPORT FEES COLLECTED UNDER THE CONSULAR FEES ORDER, LESS EXPENSES INCURRED IN ISSUING PASSPORTS, BUT THAT YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS MATTER CAN BE RESOLVED IN HK'S FAVOUR.
15.
CONFIDENTIAL