CONFIDENTIAL
063267
MDHIAN 2927
PASSPORTS AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
131. IN THIS CONNECTION THERE HAS BEEN A GOOD DEAL OF CONCERN EXPRESSED RECENTLY ABOUT WHETHER THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS IN USING
THE NEW BRITISH NATIONAL COVERSEAS) (BN(0)) PASSPORT.
132. THE BRITISH NATIONAL COVERSEAS) STATUS, AND THE PASSPORT THAT GOES WITH IT, WAS INTRODUCED ON 1 JULY. THOSE WHO ARE ENTITLED TO THIS FORM OF PASSPORT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO USE IF AFTER 1997, WHEREAS THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZEN (BDTC) PASSPORT WILL NOT BE USEABLE AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG SAR. THE NEW PASSPORT WAS PROVIDED FOR IN THE EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION. IT WAS ISSUED FOLLOWING SOME NINE MONTHS OF INTENSIVE ACTIVITY BY THE
BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS TO EXPLAIN THE NEW TERMINOLOGY.
THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING, WITH THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRIES TO WHICH HONG KONG PEOPLE TRAVEL MOST OFTEN PUBLICLY STATING THAT THEY WILL TREAT THE BN(0) PASSPORT IN THE SAME WAS AS
THEY DO BDTC PASSPORTS: AND THIS INCLUDES THE CONTINUATION OF
EXISTING VISA FREE ARRANGEMENTS. NO GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THAT IT
WILL NOT ACCEPT FOR ENTRY TO ITS TERRITORY TRAVELLERS HOLDING
THE BN(0) PASSPORT.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
24
ΜΑΙΝ
23
HONG KONG AGREEMENT RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH (FE)
DEP HD/PUSD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
ADDITIONAL
1
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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CONFIDENTIAL