CONFIDENTIAL
widespread international
acceptance of the new passport.
The Hong Kong Government advise that it would be wise, in Hong Kong terms, not to wait too long after the making of
the Order before taking action internationally. At the
same time there is a risk, which Hong Kong recognise, that
if action is taken too long before 1 July 1987 immigration
authorities in third countries will forget about the new
passport before it appears.
In view of these
considerations it has been agreed with Hong Kong that the
right time to initiate the campaign would be September
1986, and that we should keep in mind the possibility of a
brief reminding exercise in May or June 1987.
9.
There will be great interest in both Hong Kong and
Parliament in the outcome of the exercise. Our aim must be
to announce that as many countries as possible have indicated they will recognise the new passport. It would probably be wise to defer any detailed public statement
about the campaign until we reach such a stage. But it
would be useful to announce in Hong Kong that an exercise
was under way.
We propose to consult the Hong Kong
Government on a suitable press release for use there.
10. We have informed the Chinese in general terms of our
intention to mount a campaign to secure international
acceptance of the new passport. We propose, as a courtesy,
to give them a copy
of the Note to be sent to Foreign and
Commonwealth Missions in London.
11. NTD,
MVD and Legal Advisers concur. The Home Office
agree at official
official level and will
will copy
to their Ministers
for information.
Colten
9 September 1986
CO Hum
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENTIAL