GRS 230
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 3987
OF 28044OZ NOVEMBER 86
INFO ROUTINE BERNE
HKK 340/1
RECEL
13 DEC 1986
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
NATIONALITY: INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF BN(0) PASSPORTS
AT OUR REQUEST, CONSUL-GENERAL OF SWITZERLAND (HUTTER) CALLED ON SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ON 27 NOVEMBER TO ENABLE HIM TO RESPOND TO ANY POINT HE MIGHT HAVE ON THE NOTE WE HAD SENT HIM ON THE BN (0) STATUS AND THE PASSPORT THAT GOES WITH IT.
2. HUTTER CONFIRMED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT AND THE SWISS EMBASSY IN LONDON HAD RECEIVED SIMILAR NOTES.
3. AT HUTTER'S REQUEST, S FOR S CLARIFIED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BN (0) AND BO(C) STATUS.
4. HUTTER SAID HE PERSONALLY SAW NO PROBLEM REGARDING THE NEW BN(0) STATUS AND PASSPORT BEING ACCEPTED BY HIS GOVERNMENT. HE HAD SENT A LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC LAW IN BERNE ADVOCATING THAT HIS GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT TREAT BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDER DIFFERENTLY FROM BOTC PASSPORT HOLDERS. HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT THIS SHOULD AT LEAST BE THE CASE UP TO 1997.
5. ON VISA ABOLITION, HUTTER THOUGHT THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD PROBABLY APPLY THE PRESENT VISA-FREE ARRANGEMENTS APPLIED TO HK BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS TO FUTURE BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS. BUT C OF I HOLDERS WOULD CONTINUE TO REQUIRE AN ENTRY VISA TO VISIT SWITZERLAND.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.