W 3KX4
RECEIVED 12 REGISTRY 19 NOV 1986
GRS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
FM MANILA
XY
kem
Mek 5/12
TO ROUTINE F C O
TELNO 507
OF 300044Z OCTOBER 26
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG
Confidential
Amended Dist
30-10-86
TOP COPY O DIST ?
HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF BN (0) PASSPORTS.
1.
I CALLED ON ASSISTANT MINISTER SEVERINO, HEAD OF THE OFFICE
OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ON 29
OCTOBER TO CARRY OUT THE INSTRUCTIONS IN LE BRETON'S CIRCULAR LETTER
TO HEADS OF MISSION OF 23 SEPTEMBER. I HANDED OVER A FORMAL
NOTE AND AN EXPLANATORY PIECE OF PAPER BASED ON THE TEXTS
ENCLOSED WITH LE BRETON'S LETTER.
2.
SEVERINO (WHO HAS SERVED IN PEKING (1976-79) AND HAS SOME
FAMILIARITY WITH HONG KONG) HAD RECEIVED A NOTE SENT TO DIPLOMATIC
MISSIONS IN LONDON BUT HAD NOT YET HAD ANY REPORT OF CONSUL
GENERAL REYES' 20 OCTOBER CALL ON THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY
IN HONG KONG (HONG KONG TELNO 3478). IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS I
GAVE SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE PARAGRAPHS IN THE AGREEMENT
AND EXCHANGE OF MEMORA DA DEALING WITH NATIONALITY AND EXPLAINED
THE REASONS WHY RETURNABILITY TO HONG KONG (A POINT ON WHICH
SEVERINO FOCUSSED) WAS BEING DEALT WITH IN BN(0) PASSPORTS
BY MEANS OF ENDORSEMENTS REFERRING TO IDENTITY CARDS. SEVERINO
THOUGHT IT UNLIKELY THAT THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE ANY
DIFFICULTY IN ACCEPTING THE NEW PASSPORTS BUT SAID HE WOULD NEED
TO HOLD A MEETING WITH OTHER INTERESTED DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
BEFORE GIVING A CONSIDERED RESPONSE.
3. I REFERRED TO THE HELPFUL STATEMENTS MADE BY THE US, AUSTRALIA
AND JAPAN AND SAID THAT A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FROM THE PHILIPPINE
AUTHORITIES WOULD BE WELCOME. SEVERINO ASKED ADOUT THE REACTIONS
OF OTHER ASEAN COUNTRIES. I SAID I HAD RECEIVED NO REPORTS ON
THESE SO FAR BUT WOULD LET HIM KNOW IF AND WHEN I DID.
COMMENT.
14.
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Confidential