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explained the wording of and purpose behind the agreed right of abode endorsement for the BN (0) passports and said that these travel documents could be used until they were replaced by documents issued by the SAR. Wang left Holter with the clear impression that after 1997 both BN (0) passports and SAR travel documents could be held for a transitional period. Wang then explained the agreed arrangements for Certificates of Identity (C of Is). He said that the majority of Hong Kong C of Is were currently held by ethnic Chinese who could not obtain or had not obtained a BDTC/BN (0) passport and that the existing C of Is would be replaced by new C of Is to be issued by the Hong Kong Government without colonial insignia etc but which would remain valid for 10 years. would be replaced by C of Is issued by the SAR. Wang concluded that after 1997 all those entitled to the right of abode in the SAR would be issued with travel documents in accordance with а flexible policy.
These
4.
Wang then volunteered that non ethnic Chinese who had lived for several generations in Hong Kong could apply for Chinese nationality which would be granted to them if they met the required conditions. Holter asked Wang about arrangements for children born to non ethnic Chinese in the SAR after 1997. Wang replied that such children would be entitled to British Overseas Citizenship (BOC) if they held no other nationality, but that their BOC passport would not contain the right of abode, endorse- ment. However, such persons would be entitled to other SAR travel documents which would demonstrate their right of abode in Hong Kong. They would not be stateless.
5.
remarks.
Holter asked me for any comments on Wang's
I said that I would like to look with care at the notes I had taken, but my initial impression was that Wang had given him а full and accurate account of the new arrangements. I said that it would be clear from Wang's remarks that the Chinese had no objection to these arrange- ments which had indeed been agreed between the two sides. I passed Holter copies of the exchange of memoranda of 11 April 1986 and also left him with copies of the Joint Declaration and associated exchange of memoranda (having noted that Le Breton's NTD letter 341/1 of 3 November to Jackson, Stockholm, authorised this for the Swedes).
6.
In conclusion I said that I imagined the issue of "returnability" was what lay behind Holter's. instructions. I said that I hoped it would now be clear to the Norwegian authorities that no problems would arise concerning "returnability" of bearers of BN (0) passports or Hong Kong C of Is with the right of abode endorsement.
Holter
said
/that
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