1992-07-16 09:46 SECURITY BRANCH
852 868 5074 F.€13
2 -
4.
On reflection we agree tha: the legislation should cover both the ("multi-date) phased programre and the (single date) cut-off date for registatration/ naturalization as a BDTC. The timing of the lattel cut-off must be such as to keep the door for registration open as long as possible while giving ourselves enough time to process applications. At present, it takes about
And we still reed 18 months to process an application.
time on top of that to process passport applications. we think we can cut this down to between one year and six months. Caution suggests a cut-off date of 30 Jun 1995.
5.
I think this covers most of Shelagh's comments,
Taking the rest seriatim -
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(e)
"the problem" (her paragraph 1) : we will change this to read : "People wishing to register for BNO) status or to register/natura: ise as BDTCs
We
will make a sim:.lar change to the heading on page 9;
registration of BDTC (her paragraph 1, penultimate sentence : my answer in (a) covers this;
need to amend the Hong Kong Act 1985 (your paragraph 3, second sentence) : we accept that cut-off dates in respect of both BDTCS and BN (0)s could be .ncluded in one Order in Council and that there is no need to amend the Hong Kong Act 1935. We will accordingly delete references to the need for such an amendment from paragraphs 2(d), 15 and 16 of the draft ExCo memorandum;
several cut-off dates (her paragraph 4, third sentence): as explained in paragraph 2, we propose that the end of each phase of the programme should be th cut-off date for the group covered by the completed phase. We do rot see why phasing people by age should be unfair. There has to be some basis for the calling them forward. Indeed, it is difficult to think now else we might do it:
powers in the NA 1981 and the Hong Kong Act 1985 (Shelagh's paragraph 5 and lass two sentences of paragraph 6): we accept that paragraph 2(3) of the 1985 Act Schedule contains the necessary vires to impose cut-off dates or BITC naturalisation/ registration and that an amendment to the Act will therefore not be necessary. will amend paragraph 16 of the draft ExCo memorandum accordingly.
We
, (E)