4.
5.
FROPOSED NEW BN (0) FORMAT SUBSTANDARD?
We are aware of no feeling in Hong Kong that the passport is in anyway
substandard. It is clearly within the 'family' of British passports, and is with the traditional passport it is issued with the authority
of "Her Brittanic Majesty's Secretary of State". It differs only from
the common EC format in the removal of EC references. It is the same
passport as will be issued to others who are not UK nationals for EC
purposes and the holder's right of abode in Hong Kong will be clearly
endorsed in the passport.
TOO MANY PASSPORT FORMATS FOR HONG KONG
This is not a problem. A great deal of change is underway around the
world in passport format. There will be four types of passport issued
in Hong Kong until the end of the century; in the UK we shall have three;
in other EC states there will be at least two; and in the United States,
Canada and Australia also at least two as they change to machine
readable passports.
Properly explained as we intend, none of this poses a problem. The
essential thing is that third countries understand the rights of the
BN(0) status and, as will be the case, that the right of abode is
clearly stated on the passport.
6.
ISSUING POLICY
The detail has yet to be confirmed and work on preparing application
forms and explanatory leaflets is underway. The essentials of the
policy will however be:
a)
full 10 year validity BN (0) passports ie, valid beyond 1 July 1997
for those who opt for them. Where people opt for BDTC (HK) passports
these will be restricted to 30 June 1997 at which point the status
lapses; and
b)
people may not hold BN(0) and BDTC (HK) passports at the same time,
in order to prevent abuse of passports.
D6.2