CONFIDENTIAL
55996
1
THE HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG. UNQUOTE. (IT HAS BEEN AGREED BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS THAT ALL PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS REFERRED TO IN THIS ENDORSEMENT ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UP TO 30 JUNE 1997 WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED AFTER THAT DATE UNTIL REPLACED BY PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT AND THAT SUCH REPLACEMENTS WILL BEAR THE SAME NUMBER. THERE MAY BE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO, BY VIRTUE OF THE TERMS OF SECTION XIV OF ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, WILL LOSE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG AFTER 30 JUNE 1997.
THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ENSURE, HOWEVER, THIS WILL ONLY AFFECT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE (AND HENCE ARE RETURNABLE) ELSEWHERE)
•
ANY
PERSONS WHO ARE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG WILL RETAIN THAT STATUS UNTIL 30 JUNE 1997 WHETHER OR NOT THEY APPLY FOR BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) STATUS. PASSPORTS CURRENTLY HELD BY SUCH BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS WILL REMAIN FULLY VALID UNTIL THEIR DATE OF EXPIRY UNLESS CANCELLED UPON THE ISSUE OF A PASSPORT SHOWING THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS). SUCH PERSONS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO APPLY FOR THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) WILL CONTINUE TO BE ISSUED WITH PASSPORTS SHOWING THEIR STATUS AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS, BUT THESE PASSPORTS WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM VALIDITY TO 30 JUNE 1997.
COPIES OF THE HONG KONG ACT AND THE HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER ARE AVAILABLE IF REQUIRED FROM HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, 49 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON WC1V 6HB.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NOTE COULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES IN THE COUNTRIES TO WHOSE MISSIONS THIS NOTE IS ADDRESSED.
HER MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AVAILS HIMSELF OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW TO THEIR EXCELLENCIES AND MESSIEURS THE HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN LONDON THE ASSURANCE OF HIS HIGHEST CONSIDERATION.
ENDS
YOUNG
OCMIAN 5996.
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/NTD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
DEP HD/PUSD
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
MR BARRINGTON
3
COPIES TO:
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD
MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE
MR EMERY, B4 DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON
MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE.
ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.
MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE
Confidential