WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989
44
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF BRANCH RE-ENTRY PERMIT SECTION
* * *
SERVICES AT THE RE-ENTRY PERMIT SECTION AT THE SHA TIN OFFICE OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AS A MEASURE TO FACILITATE THE PROCESSING OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HEAVY DEMANDS FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AT THE SHA TIN OFFICE, 2ND FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, HAD BEEN RECORDED RECENTLY,
"RESIDENTS OF SHA TIN WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR RE-ENTRY PERMITS MAY APPROACH THE TAI PO IMMIGRATION OFFICE, 5TH FLOOR, TAI PO GOVERNMENT OFFICES, OR THE WEST KOWLOON RE-ENTRY PERMIT OFFICE, NO.789 NATHAN ROAD, 1ST FLOOR," HE SAID.
IT NOW TAKES 20 WORKING DAYS (ABOUT FOUR WEEKS) то ISSUE A BRITISH HONG KONG PASSPORT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"MEMBERS OF THE FUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT IF THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO TRAVEL IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, THERE IS NO NEED то SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO QUEUEING UP ALL MORNING FOR A TAG.
"THIS WOULD CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF INCONVENIENCE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GENUINE NEED TO TRAVEL OVERSEAS, HE SAID.
++
ANY PERSON WHO REQUIRES A TRAVEL DOCUMENT FOR URGENT TRAVEL CAN ALWAYS APPROACH THE TRAVEL DOCUMENT SECTION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 1ST FLOOR, AT 61 MODY ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI.
"THEY MUST BRING WITH THEM THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS SO THAT WE CAN RENDER ASSISTANCE TO THEIR APPLICATIONS THE BEST WE CAN,' THE
SPOKESMAN SAID.
"I
HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE HAD BEEN SELLING QUEUE PLACES IN SOME OF THE IMMIGRATION BRANCH OFFICES.
"THERE IS NO NEED TO BE MADE USE OF IN THIS WAY. ANY PERSON WHO REQUIRES A TRAVEL DOCUMENT FOR URGENT TRAVEL CAN ALWAYS APPROACH OUR HEADQUARTERS AND MAKE KNOWN THEIR CASE TO US FOR ASSISTANCE,' HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN UNFOUNDED RUMOURS AND MISLEADING PRESS REPORTS SUGGESTING THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT ACQUIRED A PASSPORT THIS YEAR WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTIES BECOMING BRITISH NATIONALS
(OVERSEAS).
+
"ANY PERSON BORN IN HONG KONG BEFORE JANUARY 1 1983, AND ANY PERSON BORN IN HONG KONG AFTER JANUARY 1, 1983 WHOSE FATHER OR MOTHER IS EITHER A HKBDTC OR SETTLED IN HONG KONG, IS ELIGIBLE TO ACQUIRE A HKBDTC PASSPORT UPON APPLICATION BEFORE JULY 1, 1997, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
"
"PEOPLE WHO HAVE HKBDTC STATUS INCLUDING ELIGIBLE PERSONS WHO DO NOT HOLD BDTC PASSPORTS, WILL BE ENTITLED TO ACQUIRE THE STATUS OF BN(0), TOGETHER WITH BN(0) PASSPORTS, AT ANY TIME
BEFORE JULY
1,
TI
1997, HE ADDED.
/45