XN000022-1986-04-23 — Page 36

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986

BRITAIN REPLIES TO REQUESTS ON DRAFT ORDER

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FOLLOWING ARE THE TEXTS OF A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ASKED BY MR COLIN MOYNIHAN, MP (CONS, LEWISHAM EAST) AND OF THE WRITTEN REPLY GIVEN BY THE HOME SECRETARY, THE RT HON DOUGLAS HURD, TODAY (APRIL 23).

QUESTION :

TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT WHETHER HE IS YET IN A POSITION TO RESPOND TO THE REQUESTS MADE BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG CONCERNING THE DRAFT HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER IN COUNCIL.

REPLY :

THE GOVERNMENT HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE REQUESTS MADE BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND HAVE HELD DETAILED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT IN JANUARY AND IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIONS PUT TO US BY ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN HONG KONG.

THE COUNCIL'S FIRST REQUEST WAS THAT WE SHOULD PROVIDE AN ENDORSEMENT IN THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE HOLDER DID NOT REQUIRE A VISA OR ENTRY CERTIFICATE TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE GOVERNMENT WILL MEET THIS REQUEST. AS WE HAVE MADE CLEAR ON MANY OCCASIONS, VISITORS FROM

BRITISH HONG KONG ARE WELCOME TO COME TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS DO NOT HAVE TO OBTAIN A VISA IN ADVANCE TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM. THIS IS THE POSITION UNDER THE CURRENT IMMIGRATION RULES AND THIS GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF INTRODUCING ANY VISA REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH VISITORS. THIS IS UNDERSTANDABLY A MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. IN RESPONSE TO THEIR WISHES, THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT HAVE AGREED THAT AN ENDORSEMENT REFLECTING THIS POSITION SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE NEW BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORTS. THE ENDORSEMENT WILL READ:

+ IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM IMMIGRATION RULES,

THE HOLDER OF THIS PASSPORT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ENTRY CERTIFICATE OR VISA TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM.+

A LEAFLET WILL BE ISSUED WITH EACH PASSPORT EXPLAINING THE ENDORSEMENT AND THE POSITION UNDER THE IMMIGRATION RULES.

THE COUNCIL'S