3
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ADDED THAT BN(0) PASSPORTS WOULD BE VALID FOR 10 YEARS, IN LINE WITH THE NORMAL VALIDITY PERIODS OF BRITISH PASSPORTS.
+AS THE PROCESS FOR REGISTRATION AS A BN(0) WILL BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROCESS FOR ACQUIRING A BN(0) PASSPORT, THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR A BDTC SEPARATELY TO REGISTER AS A BN(0) ONCE HE HAS ACQUIRED A BN(0) PASSPORT, HE SAID.
MR THOMAS SAID THERE WERE TWO MAIN REASONS WHY THE
BN(0) PASSPORT WAS BEING INTRODUCED IN 1987.
+ THE FIRST IS TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BDTC PASSPORT WHICH FROM THAT TIME ONWARD WILL HAVE A PROGRESSIVELY SHORTER PERIOD OF VALIDITY.
+AND THE SECOND IS TO ALLOW IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS
IN THIRD COUNTRIES PLENTY OF TIME TO GET USED TO THE NEW PASSPORT.
+ INTENTION IS, OF COURSE, THAT BY THE TIME THE BN(0) PASSPORT BECOMES AVAILABLE IN 1987, THIRD COUNTRIES WILL HAVE ACCEPTED IT AS A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT. +
AS FOR WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR A RESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG SAR TO HOLD CONCURRENTLY A BN(0) PASSPORT AND AN SAR PASSPORT, HE SAID THAT IN HIS VIEW PARAGRAPH 3 OF SECTION 14 OF ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION CLEARLY PROVIDED FOR RESIDENTS TO THE SAR TO HOLD CONCURRENTLY AN SAR AND A BM(0) PASSPORT.
+THERE CAN BE, SIR, NO OTHER INTERPRETATION, HE SAID.
AS FOR THE CALL FOR SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO THE REQUEST, FROM BDTC'S WHO ARE NOT OF CHINESE ORIGIN AND FORMER SERVICEMEN, TO BE GRANTED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP OR THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS A MATTER FOR HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.
+AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE ELOQUENT PLEAS MADE ON THE IR BEHALF BY THOSE IN THIS COUNCIL AND OTHERS OUTSIDE WILL REACH THE EARS OF THOSE IN WESTMINSTER BY THE TIME THE DRAFT ORDER COMES TO BE DEBATED, HE SAID.
+BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF ANY PERSON WHO CEASES TO BE A BDTC ON JULY 1, 1997, BY VIRTUE OF PROVISIONS IN THE DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL, OR ANY CHILD BORN ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1997 TO SUCH A PERSON THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THEM BECOMING STATELESS THEREAFTER, HE SAID.
+ARTICLE 6 OF THE DRAFT ORDER PROVIDES THAT ANY PERSON WHO CEASES TO BE A BDTC ON JULY 1, 1997 SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME A BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN IF HE WOULD OTHERWISE BE STATELESS.
/+50 FOR
+