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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987
BN(0) PASSPORT A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT
HE
PASSPORT ON BDTC
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT SAW EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE USING THE NEW BN(0) WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AS WIDELY AND EASILY AS THEY DID NOW PASSPORTS.
SIR DAVID TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE FACT THAT NOT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAD ISSUED A STATEMENT ON THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE BN (0) PASSPORT WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT.
ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT THEM TO DO SO, HE SAID, NOTING THAT THE BN(0) PASSPORT WAS A BRITISH PASSPORT ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
"AS WITH ANY PASSPORT IT IS ASSUMED THAT OTHER COUNTRIES WILL ACCEPT IT AS A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT.
"IN THE RARE EVENT THAT THEY DO NOT DO SO, IT IS FOR THEM TO MAKE THIS CLEAR, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID STRESSED THAT NO GOVERNMENT HAD SAID THAT IT NOT ACCEPT FOR ENTRY TO ITS TERRITORY TRAVELLERS HOLDING THE PASSPORT.
WOULD BN (0)
"THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRIES TO WHICH HONG KONG PEOPLE TRAVEL MOST OFTEN HAVE PUBLICLY STATED THAT THEY WILL TREAT THE BN(0) PASSPORT IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY DO BDTC PASSPORTS; AND THIS INCLUDES THE CONTINUATION OF VISA FREE ARRANGEMENTS WHERE THESE EXIST, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID EXPLAINED THAT THE BN (0) STATUS AND THE PASSPORT THAT WENT WITH IT WERE INTRODUCED ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR.
"THOSE WHO ARE ENTITLED TO USE THIS FORM OF PASSPORT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO USE IT AFTER 1997, WHEREAS THE HONG PASSPORT WILL NOT BE VALID AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.
"PROVISION WAS MADE FOR THE NEW PASSPORT MEMORANDA ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION,
KONG BDTC HONG KONG
H
IN THE EXCHANGE OF
HE SAID.
SIR DAVID ADDED THAT ITS INTRODUCTION FOLLOWED SOMB NINE MONTHS OF INTENSIVE DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY BY THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS TO EXPLAIN THE NEW STATUS TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
"DESPITE ALL THAT HAS BEEN SAID ON THE SUBJECT TO THE CONTRARY,
THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING,' HE SAID.
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