GPS 430
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
RECC
TELNO 3421
10 NOV 1986
OF 17073OZ OCTOBER 86.
INFO ROUTINE TOKYO
TOP COPY Q DIS
DIST 7
NATIONALITY # INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF BN(0) PASSPORTS
AT OUR REQUEST, CONSUL-GENERAL OF JAPAN (MATSUURA) CALLED ON SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ON 16 OCTOBER FOR US TO RESPOND TO ANY POINTS HE MIGHT HAVE ON THE NOTE WE HAD SENT HIM ON THE BN (0)
PASSPORT. DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WAS ALSO PRESENT.
2.
MATSUURA MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(A) THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO COOPERATE IN HMG'S EFFORTS TO SEEK WORLD WIDE ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEW PASSPORT. JAPANESE
PRIME MINISTER HAD MADE THE SAME POINT IN LATE MAY:
(B) HE WAS, NEVERTHELESS, INTERESTED IN THE QUOTE ATTITUDE UNQUOTE OF OTHER COUNTRIES ON THIS MATTER:
(C) HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD FORMALLY SUPPORT THE NEW PASSPORT IN
DUE COURSE.
3. S FOR S THANKED MATSUURA FOR HIS POSITIVE REMARKS AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS GOVERNMENT COMING OUT TO SUPPORT
THE BN (0) PASSPORT. HE SAID THAT THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS
WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COUNTRIES TO WHICH HONG KONG PEOPLE TRAVEL HAD BEEN POSITIVE AND HELPFUL.
4.
THE TOPIC OF MINORITIES AND BOC STATUS AFTER 1997 WAS RAISED
AND S FOR S ASSURED MATSUURA THAT NO ONE WOULD BE LEFT STATELESS.
5.
D OF IMM. ALSO EXPLAINED, ON REQUEST, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOC AND BN (0).
6.
MATSUURA INQUIRED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY AND DOCUMENTS OF IDENTITY. D OF IMM. BRIEFED HIM ON THE LATEST AGREEMENT REACHED WITH THE PRCG ON C OF IS AND EXPLAINED THE INTENTION TO DISCUSS WITH THE CHINESE FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING D OF IS AND OTHER TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (E.G. SEAMEN'S IDENTITY BOOKS).
7.
UN VISA ABOLITION MATSUURA REFUSED TO BE COMMITTED TO ANY POSSIBILITY OF HIS GOVERNMENT RELAXING THE PRESENT REQUIREMENT. HE WAS URGED TO CONSIDER LIFTING VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR HONG KONG VISITORS TO JAPAN FOR UP TO SEVEN DAYS, AS IS THE PRESENT PRACTICE FOR JAPANESE VISITORS TO HONG KONG. MATSUURA REMAINED NON-
COMMITTAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
KOMMENT.
т.