07-OCT-1993 15:00
HK GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Present Position
BN(0) Phased Registration
Programmg...
852 521 1868
P.04
The first cut-off date is 31 October 1993.
Up to now 50% of the first age-group has obtained/
This is satisfactory.
applied for BN (0) passports.
The programme has been running smoothly in Hong Kong, although there was some initial confusion in some
overseas posts.
Points likely to be raised by LegCo
It is unlikely that LegCo will raise
problems/questions/unsatisfactory arrangements
regarding the phased programme.
However, they may
raise the three related issues of (i) general assurance
for all British passport holders after 1997, (ii) full British nationality for the ethnic minorities and (iii)
wives and widows of war servicemen.
Suggested line-to-take
(1) general assurance
not elas How all
the assurance given by the then Foreign Secretary
in 1989 will be honoured. Sir Geoffrey Howe said
that if, against all our expectations, the worst