THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1987
RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
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PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE HONG KONG LEGISLATION TO ENABLE THE INCLUSION OF A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) (BN(0)) PASSPORTS AND HONG KONG CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY (C OF IS) WERE RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY).
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTAINED IN THE IMMIGRATION AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1987 AND THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 8). THE LEGISLATION HAS TO BE ENACTED BEFORE JULY 1, 1987 TO ALLOW ISSUE OF NEW FORMS OF IDENTITY CARDS AND BN(0) PASSPORTS TO COMMENCE FROM THAT DATE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS OR COMMENTS SHOULD WRITE TO THE OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (OMELCO) AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
BACKGROUND
TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG RESIDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO TRAVEL ABROAD WITH THE SAME EASE AND CONVENIENCE BEFORE AND AFTER 1997, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE AGREED, THROUGH DISCUSSIONS IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THAT BN(0) PASSPORTS AND CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY ISSUED FROM JULY 1, 1987 WILL CONTAIN AN ENDORSEMENT TO SHOW CLEARLY THAT THE HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.
THE WORDING OF THIS ENDORSEMENT AS AGREED BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENT IS:
+THE HOLDER OF THIS PASSPORT (OR CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY) HAS HONG KONG PERMANENT IDENTITY CARD NUMBER (XYZ) WHICH STATES THAT THE HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.+ TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION, IT HAS FURTHER BEEN AGREED THAT NEW FORMS OF IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FROM JULY 1, 1987 WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 30, 1997 UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE REPLACED BY IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) GOVERNMENT.
THE NEW FORMS OF IDENTITY CARDS TO BE ISSUED FROM JULY 1, 1987 ARE: A HONG KONG PERMANENT IDENTITY CARD WHICH STATES THAT ITS HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO WILL HAVE THAT RIGHT AND A HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD WHICH DOES NOT STATE THAT ITS HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG FOR OTHERS WHO WILL NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT.
THE TERM