Note N° 154
Her Britannic Majesty's Embassy present their compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have the honour to refer to the Ministry's Note N° 35 bis.A.I.b of 21 July, about the Embassy's practice relating to expired Hong Kong Certificates of Identity.
In accordance with instructions from the Government of Hong Kong,
on whose behalf the Embassy act in these matters, the Consular Section of the Embassy are required in certain circumstances to cancel Certificates of Identity when they expire if the holder of a Certificate has acquired citizenship of, or residence status in, another country. This is on the assumption that in such cases the person concerned has the right to a form of travel document issued by the country of residence. It is recognised, of course, that a Carte de Séjour does not constitute a right of residence, nor
does it serve as a travel document. It is for this reason that holders of Hong Kong Certificates of Identity which expire, who hold a standard Carte de Séjour issued by the relevant French autho- rities are enabled to apply at the Embassy for a new Certificate. However, it is the understanding of the Embassy that holders of long-term (10 years) Cartes de Séjour have a right to a Titre de Voyage issued by the French Government. In these circumstances, holders of such Cartes de Séjour are presumably not deprived of all possibilities of travel. For this reason, if such persons are also holders of Hong Kong Certificates of Identity which expire, the Consular Services of the Embassy would normally expect to cancel the Certificates of Identity.
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