CONFIDENTIAL
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RIEF NƆ 14: NATIONALITY AND IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS
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HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS: ENTRY REFUSAIS (REVISION)
LINE TO TAKE
Cont
(Secretary y State's Litt)
We are looking into the recent incidents (at Heathrow on
9 April and at Dover on 29 April) in which Hong Kong British
passport holders were refused entry.
No question of validity of BN (0) or BDTC passport being in
doubt, or of discrimination against holders at UK ports of
entry.
Both types of passport are valid British passports.
Holders
do not require visas or entry certificates to enter UK as
visitors. But they are of course subject to British immigration
rules. [If pressed] Every country has right to refuse entry to persons, whatever nature of their travel documents, if there is reason to suppose purpose of entry is other than that stated.
Any complaints about conduct of immigration officers and police
are vigorously pursued. But appeals against individual
decisions best pursued through individual immigration appelate
authorities. Cannot comment on individual cases.
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Home Office are considering whether recent cases which have been subject of complaints from Hong Kong, and issues arising
out of them, suggest that further guidance to immigration officers is required.
CONFIDENTIAL
HRB 027/3