CONFIDENTIAL
I would certainly like David Waddington to
be very positive about the likely international
acceptability of BN(O) passports during the next Parliamentary debate on the Order. We clearly
cannot make formal approaches to third countries
until Parliament has passed the necessary legis-
lation, but we are committed to making every effort
thereafter to ensure that BN (O)s have the same rights
of access as are currently enjoyed by Hong Kong BDTCs.
I think that this is now generally understood in
Hong Kong but we will provide further briefing for
David Waddington emphasising this before the next
debate.
I look forward to hearing your further
conclusions on all these points.
I am copying this minute to the Prime Minister,
to members of OD(K), John Wakeham, Bertie Denham, and
to Sir Robert Armstrong.
GEOFFREY HOWE
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
10 February 1986
CONFIDENTIAL
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