вост effectivel stateless
HKCD 3407/2
Mr Ricketts
CLASSIFICATION
the Barnes- Toner.
Reference
12 20/11 (Nationality)
ла
Main Hanker. Despite thr, R.'s bobotomised
ferformance, worth doing
LUNCH WITH MR KWOK, 1300 ON 20 NOVEMBER
1. Mr Kwok is visiting us following 3 days of discussions with the Home Office in Liverpool on the arrangements for the second tranche of the British Nationality Scheme. I attach the summary of recommendations which he prepared for his discussions. We can expect him to brief us on how the talks went. I list below particular points which you will wish to see covered.
Timing of second tranche (was there agreement on beginning 3/1/94?)
Timing of cut off dates for applications?
Any major changes to the operation of the scheme (points system, transfer of quotas between groups)
BDTCS 2.2 of Chapter 34 of the Act (The task of informing BDTCS that this status ceases to exist after 30/6/97 and giving them the information they need to register as BOCs; HKG have already done considerable work on this. An Order in Council will be needed further down the road at this end).
2.
BOCS On a separate tack, as you know, there has been some focus in Legco over the last week (another question tabled for 25 November) on just what British Overseas Citizenship means in a practical sense for those who hold this status. I attach (A) Hong Kong's account and assessment of the recent debate in Legco and inspired by the Indian community and (B) the latest question tabled for 25 November and I have commissioned MVD/NTCD to review the various agreements (visa abolition agreements and others) which are in force between the UK and other countries to see how many include or exclude BOCS. Any thoughts from around the table on action we could consider to improve the position of BOCS from the point of view of visa free entry to third countries would be welcome. You will see (Hong Kong telno 2731) that we have been asked to review our line on BOCship. It is seen as a figleaf.
3.
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Political Asylum Seekers The 5 Chinese refugees from Hong Kong granted permission to enter the UK by the Home Office to apply for political asylum arrived in the early hours of this morning. (I have not yet been able to check on how the arrival went Dr Baker of the June 4 Support Group was meeting and accommodating them). You may want to thank Mr Rawsthorne for the Home Office's prompt assistance with these
Hong Kong has suggested that they will shortly ask us to approach the Home Office formally to ask for similar
5.
84
file ref please
CODE 18-77
CLASSIFICATION