XN000022-1985-12-04 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1935

LONDON TO GET FULL REPORT OF DEBATE AG

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A FULL REPORT OF TODAY'S ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON THE DRAFT HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986 WILL BE SENT TO LONDON SO THAT ALL THE POINTS MADE BY MEMBERS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL COMES BEFORE PARLIAMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

WINDING UP TODAY'S ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, MR THOMAS SAID

A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ISSUES HAD BEEN RAISED IN THE DEBATE. THESE INCLUDED:

* THE NEED TO MAKE THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORT AS

EFFECTIVE A TRAVEL DOCUMENT AS THE EXISTING BDTC PASSPORT;

* THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE BN(0) PASSPORT

ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE OF IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS OF THIRD COUNTRIES:

* THE NEED FOR HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO DO ITS UTMOST TO TRY AND ENSURE THAT THE BN(0) PASSPORT IS WIDELY ACCEPTABLE INTERNATIONALLY, AND POSSIBLY TO THIS END, INCLUDE IN THE PASSPORT FREEDOM OF ENTRY INTO THE UK;

* THE NEED TO GIVE SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION TO THE REQUEST FOR RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK FROM HONG KONG BTDC'S WHO ARE NOT OF CHINESE ORIGIN, AND FROM FORMER SERVICEMEN IN HONG KONG; AND

* THE NEED TO ENSURE CONTINUED CONVENIENCE

OF TRAVEL OF CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY (CI) HOLDERS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LAST POINT, THESE ISSUES WERE ESSENTIALLY MATTERS FOR HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.

+WE SHALL ENSURE THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT SEE THE VIEWS OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, HE SAID.

TURNING TO ISSUES WHICH ARE WITHIN THE PROVINCE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, MR THOMAS SAID ONE ASPECT OF THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORT WHICH HAD GIVEN RISE TO DOUBT ABOUT ITS USEFULNESS WAS THE FACT THAT IT WOULD NOT CARRY A DIRECT +HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG+ ENDORSEMENT.

/+MEMBERS WILL