CONFIDENTIAL
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MOLIAN231
ISSUE, MADE HARDER BY THE CURRENT POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES. BEING MADE TO TAKE OUT A BN (0) PASSPORT ACCORDING TO A TIMETABLE IS A DEPRIVATION OF FREEDOM. THERE MUST BE OTHER SOLUTIONS SHORT OF AN AMENDING ORDER.
5. WE HAVE RESPONDED THAT WE HAD ALREADY EXPLORED OTHER OPTIONS SHORT OF LEGISLATION, BUT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE SUGGESTED WE WOULD HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN MEETING ALL APPLICATIONS IN EARLY 1997. WE REFERRED TO THE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE NUMBER WHO MIGHT COME FORWARD, THE TENDENCY TO PROCRASTINATE, AND THE OVERRIDING NEED TO AVOID A PROBLEM IN 1997. WE REBUTTED THE IDEA THAT A RIGHT WAS BEING TAKEN AWAY. WE EXPLAINED THAT BDTC STATUS REMAINED UP TO 30 JUNE 1997. WE SAID THAT IF WE DID NOT DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM IN A PRACTICAL ORDERED WAY, WE WOULD HAVE IMMENSE PROBLEMS DEALING WITH A LAST MINUTE RUSH: THIS WOULD CLEARLY BE INEFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION, AND NOT IN THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG BDTCS.
6.
IN SUBSEQUENT MEDIA INTERVIEWS, WE STRESSED THE BACKGROUND POINTS FURTHER. WE EMPHASISED
A
(A) THE RISK OF FAILURE TO PROCESS PEOPLE'S APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE 30 JUNE 1997 DEADLINE:
(B)
THE IMPORTANCE OF MINIMISING ANY EXTRA PUBLIC CONCERNS
AT A SENSITIVE PERIOD IN 1997:
(C) THE VIRTUAL IDENTITY OF BN (0) AND BDTC PASSPORT, THE LONGEVITY OF THE BN(0) DOCUMENT AND THE RECENT HIGH TAKE-UP RATE OF BN (0) PASSPORTS: AND
(D) THE NEED FOR PARLIAMENT TO APPROVE THE MEASURE, AS IT DEALS WITH BRITISH PASSPORTS.
A NUMBER OF OPTIONS CAME UP FROM MEMBERS AT THE NATIONALITY SUB-COMMITTEE
(A) MOUNT MORE PUBLICITY NOW:
(B) PROVIDE EXTRA RESOURCES IN 1996-97, EITHER IN THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OR THE BRITISH CONSULATE GENERAL:
(C) MAKE REGISTRATION FOR A BN (0) SEPARATE FROM ISSUING THE PASSPORT:
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