If they did not, there would be no incentive for people
to come forward on time. Those whose existing
passports were not due to expire until after their
(non-legal) cut-off dates would almost certainly wait
until the expiry dates (about one million cases in
1996/97). The resources committed to the project would
then be largely wasted. And we would still face a
last-minute rush. The "non-legal" approach would be
less controversial than the "legal" one. But it would
not achieve our objective. Neither would a single
The risk would
cut-off date close to 1997, even if combined with an
earlier "non-legal" phased programme.
remain that people would wait until the last few months
bore the cut-off.
11.
Thus we propose that the programme run from
1993 to 1996 as suggested in Annex C. The proposal is
similar in concept to the recent new identity card
exercise, with people being called forward by age
group.
12.
The Hong Kong Act 1985 provides that an Order
in Council may require applications for BN (0)
registration to be made before such time or times as
are specified. But there is no such provision in the
Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986.
Therefore,
to give legal force to the proposed programme, we must
seek an Order in Council specifying the time limits
proposed in Annex C. The Order should provide for the
Governor, as issuing authority, to have a discretion to