3
The proposed
legislative amendments are consistent
with this agreement. They also result from the Hong
Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 which gave
effect to the United Kingdom Memorandum associated
with the Joint Declaration and which enabled
in the new passports
status of British National
(Overseas) to
to be issued from 1 July 1987. The date
of 1 July 1987 is equally significant in respect of
Certificates of Identity now used by "Chinese
residents". It has been agreed with the Government
of the People's Republic of China that Certificates.
of Identity may continue to be issued from that date
until 30 June 1997 with a full ten-year validity and
may continue to be used until their due expiry date.
They will also include a right of abode endorsement
similar to that which I have just said will be
included in British National (Overseas) passports.
5
endorsement
The arrangement to include a right of abode
in travel documents is based upon the
relevant provisions in Section XIV of Annex to the
Sino-British Joint Declaration. Those provisions
state that people who will have the right of abode in
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be
issued with permanent identity cards. stating their
right of abode and that holders of permanent identity
cards of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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