XN000022-1985-12-04 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985

SHE EXPLAINED THAT THERE MIGHT BE PROBLEMS IN GETTING IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS IN OTHER COUNTRIES TO ACCEPT THE PASSPORTS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER JULY 1, 1997.

SHE URGED THEREFORE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE EASE OF TRAVEL. AND SO AS NOT TO PLACE BN(0)'S IN A WORSE OFF POSITION TO BDTC'S THAT BRITAIN AND CHINA AGREED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE OF PUTTING A CERTIFICATE OF RIGHT OF ABODE WITH THE BN(0) PASSPORTS BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.

MRS CHOW NOTED THAT THE BDTC PASSPORT NOW REQUIRED NO VISA TO ENTER ABOUT 70 COUNTRIES AND WONDERED WHETHER THE VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS APPLICABLE TO BDTC PASSPORTS WOULD BE EQUALLY VALID FOR EN(0) PASSPORTS.

+UNLESS AND UNTIL BRITAIN CAN ASSURE HONG KONG BY THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF NEGOTIATION WITH AT LEAST THE COUNTRIES WITH WHICH WE PRESENTLY HAVE VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS, THE BN(0) PASSPORTS WILL CERTAINLY BE LESS ATTRACTIVE TO BDTC'S,+ SHE SAID.

MRS CHOW MAINTAINED THAT ALTHOUGH BRITAIN MIGHT NOT BE IN A POSITION TO PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF SUCH NEGOTIATION, HONG KONG MUST BE TOLD WHEN SUCH TALKS WOULD START, AND BY WHEN THEY WERE EXPECTED TO BE CONCLUDED.

+BDTC'S WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BN(0) PASSPORTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE NEW DOCUMENT REQUIRES AND EXEMPTS,+ SHE STRESSED.

SHE WARNED THAT IF BDTC'S WERE KEPT IN A STATE OF UNCERTAINTY, OR IF THEIR PRESENT CONVENIENCE WAS ERODED, THERE WAS EVERY POSSIBILITY THEY WOULD POSTPONE THE APPLICATION FOR THE BN(0) PASSPORTS UNTIL DOUBTS WERE REMOVED.

FINALLY, MRS CHOW ECHOED HER SUPPORT FOR THE HON JOHN SWAINE'S CALL FOR AUTOMATIC PERMISSION FOR EVERY BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDER TO LAND IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

+1 BELIEVE SUCH A MOVE NOT ONLY REMOVES THE UNCERTAINTY THAT SURROUNDS THE EXISTING OPTIONAL CERTIFICATE OF ENTRY, BUT WILL ALSO HELP BRITAIN TREMENDOUSLY IN REACHING VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS FOR HONG KONG WITH THIRD COUNTRIES,+ SHE SAID.

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