UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs present their compliments to the British Embassy and have the honour to note that their attention has been drawn to the position of Chinese nationals from Hong Kong who, having arrived in France on the basis of a Certificate of Identity issued by the Hong Kong authorities, have this document withdrawn by the British Consular Services once they have obtained a French Carte de Séjour.
The Ministry feels obliged to emphasise that the Carte de Séjour is not a travel document and that the withdrawal of the Certificates of Identity has the effect of preventing the people concerned from ever leaving French territory, even on a temporary basis.
It is true that there exists an identity and travel card which, in exceptional circumstances, foreigners in France may obtain from prefectoral authorities. But this is an opening by no means accorded as of right, and generally speaking it is reserved to nationals of those countries which resort in an arbitrary fashion. to the withholding of passport facilities.
Moreover, the issue of entry visas to France on the Certificates of Identity is based on the trust the French authorities accord this document as providing for an eventual return to Hong Kong. Its withdrawal therefore presents the French authorities with a fait accompli and cannot meet with their agreement.
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The Ministry hopes that the Embassy can assure them as soon possible that the action in question represents an accident of procedure and that instructions have been given to terminate it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avail themselves of this opportunity to renew to the British Embassy the assurances of their highest consideration.