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MDLIAN 7886
WOULD NOT NEED TO APPLY FOR A NEW PASSPORT UNTIL CLOSE TO JUNE
1997.
WAY FORWARD
5. MEMBERS STRONGLY PRESSED US TO TAKE THE MATTER BACK TO EXCO. THEY ASKED US TO EXPLAIN TO EXCO THEIR VIEWS ON SEPARATING REGISTRATION FROM ISSUE OF THE PASSPORT. WE AGREED RELUCTANTLY TO THEIR REQUEST, AND WILL PUT A PAPER TO EXCO FOR DISCUSSION IN THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY. BUT, SUBJECT TO CLARIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF THE LEGAL ADVICE, OUR RECOMMENDATION WILL NOT CHANGE.
6. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD NOT PROCEED WITH PUBLICATION OF THE DRAFT ORDER ON THE BN (0) PHASED PROGRAMME
Mr Kelly zigbees UNTIL AFTER WE HAVE CONSULTED EXCO.
This would be
Contrany Parliament. any protocal
7. MEMBERS ALSO ASKED TO HAVE SIGHT OF THE DRAFT ORDER FOR THE BN (0) PHASED PROGRAMME. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER WE MAY LET THEM ALL HAVE A COPY IN ADVANCE OF IT BEING LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT: IF NOT, WE HOPE THAT THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO OUR LETTING MEMBERS KNOW THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ORDER.
COMMENT
8. WE REGRET THIS SLIGHT DELAY TO THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE TIMETABLE. HOWEVER, WE THINK THAT MEMBERS ARE NOW SLOWLY BEGINNING TO REALISE THAT THERE IS NO HIDDEN AGENDA, AND THAT WE ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO SOLVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEM. WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT AN EXCO DIVISION, AFTER RECONSIDERATION, AND THEN NOT PURSUE THIS MATTER MUCH FURTHER.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
65
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
DISTRIBUTION
71
PAGE
NTCD
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
2
CONFIDENTIAL