CONFIDENTIAL
55995 - 1
BY YOUR HOST GOVERNMENT.) THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION WILL NOW DEPEND TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT ON CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR IT AND FOR THE ARRANGEMENTS
MADE TO IMPLEMENT IT.
7.
YOU SHOULD STRESS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN FUTURE, IN THE CONTINUITY OF THEIR LIFESTYLE AND IN THE TERRITORY'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS. A CRUCIAL ELEMENT OF THIS IS CONFIDENCE IN THEIR
FREEDOM TO TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS AND RECREATION. HMG HOPE AND EXPECT, THEREFORE, THAT IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES IN THIRD COUNTRIES WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE SAME FACILITIES FOR ACCESS AND TRAVEL FOR BN(0)S AS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR HONG KONG
BDTCS.
ASSURANCES THAT THEIR FREEDOM TO TRAVEL WILL NOT BE
AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE OF NOMENCLATURE WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO
CONFIDENCE AMONG HONG KONG PEOPLE AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE
CONTINUING SUCCESS OF THE HONG KONG AGREEMENT. IF YOU THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, YOU COULD MENTION THE SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS ALREADY MADE BY THE US, AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN. OPEN SQUARE
BRACKETS QUOTE. US VICE-PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AFFIRMED AT HIS OCTOBER 19 PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WILL RECOGNISE THE PROPOSED BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT. UNQUOTE (EXTRACT FROM TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG ON 23 OCTOBER 1985). QUOTE THE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION TODAY WELCOMED THE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE ON THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORT REACHED IN THE RECENT MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. WHILST MAKING CLEAR THAT THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORT STILL HAD TO BE FORMALLY EXAMINED BY THE AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES, THE COMMISSION SAID THAT THE PASSPORT APPEARED TO BE ACCEPTABLE FROM AN AUSTRALIAN VIEWPOINT AND NOT TO
PRESENT ANY PROBLEMS. HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE VISITING AUSTRALIA AS THEY PRESENTLY DO, SUBJECT TO THE USUAL VISA REQUIREMENTS. UNQUOTE (EXTRACT FROM PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION IN HONG KONG ON 6 DECEMBER 1985). FINALLY, IN AN ARTICLE WRITTEN FOR A SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST SUPPLEMENT ON QUOTE JAPAN REVIEW 1986 UNQUOTE, THE JAPANESE
4
CONFIDENTIAL