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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985
HE SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD REAFFIRMED THAT A SOLUTION TO THE STATING OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG ON BN(0) PASSPORTS WOULD BE SOUGHT WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WHICH IN THE END WOULD NOT NECESSITATE THE CARRYING OF AN ADDITIONAL DOCUMENT BY THE HOLDERS OF SUCH PASSPORT WHEN TRAVELLING ABROAD.
HOWEVER, SAID THE WORDING OF THE ENDORSEMENT ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING AND REPORTED IN THE PRESS HAD NOT FULLY ADDRESSED THIS PARTICULAR POINT.
DR HO HOPED THAT HOLDERS OF THE BN(0) PASSPORT COULD ENJOY THE SAME DEGREE OF CONVENIENCE IN TRAVELLING AS THE PRESENT BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS.
HE BELIEVED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD FIRM COMMITMENT TO MAKE THE STRONGEST REPRESENTATION TO THIRD COUNTRIES, TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THIS RELATIVELY COMPLEX ARRANGEMENT SO AS TO ESTABLISH INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE NEW-STYLE PASSPORT.
+ONLY IF THE BN(0) PASSPORT WERE ACCEPTED BY THIRD COUNTRIES SOON AFTER ITS ISSUANCE BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG BE ENCOURAGED TO COME FORWARD TO APPLY FOR IT, DR HO SAID.
+COULD WE BE ENLIGHTENED THEN AS REGARDS HOW AND WHAT THE UK GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO PROMOTE THE ACCEPTANCE OF BN(0) PASSPORT IN A MORE DETAILED MANNER?+ HE ASKED.
DR HO SAID HIS UNDERSTANDING FROM THE JOINT DECLARATION WAS THAT RESIDENTS WHO AT PRESENT WERE ENTITLED TO HOLD BDTC PASSPORTS WOULD IN FUTURE BE ENTITLED TO USE BN(0) PASSPORTS AS A TRAVELLING DOCUMENT IN ADDITION TO THE ONE ISSUED BY THE FUTURE HONG KONG SAR GOVERNMENT.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP TO DISPEL UNNECESSARY SUSPICION CONCERNING THE ENTITLEMENT TO CONCURRENTLY HOLDING BOTH TPYES OF PASSPORT IF THIS COULD BE CONFIRMED IN DUE COURSE BY BOTH THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.
+THIS, I BELIEVE WILL GO A LONG WAY IN EASING THE MINDS OF THOSE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE UP THE NEW-STYLE BRITISH PASSPORTS, HE SAID.
CALL TO OFFER BRITISH OR BDT CITIZENSHIP TO MINORITIES
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THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD OFFER LOCAL NON-CHINESE ETHNIC MINORITIES BRITISH CITIZENSHIP OR BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENSHIP IN ANOTHER BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE HON ALLEN LEE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON THE DRAFT HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986 TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID