XN000022-1987-06-30 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1987

BN(0) STATUS EFFECTIVE TOMORROW

THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT AS FROM TOMORROW WEDNESDAY, BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS BY VIRTUE CF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG, E.G. BY BIRTH, NATURALISATION OR REGISTRATION IN HONG KONG MAY ACQUIRE THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) AND A BRITISH PASSPORT THAT GOES WITH THIS STATUS.

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION, *A GENERAL GUIDE ΤΟ THE LRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT' IS AVAILABLE AT IMMIGRATION OR DISTRICT OFFICES.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO CALL 3-7395577 ("HINESE SPEAKERS ); 3-7396677 (ENGLISH SPEAKERS } FOR ENQUIRIES.

POSITIVE RESPONSE TO BN (0) STATUS AND PASSPORT

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, MR TIM EGGAR, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT RESPONSE FROM THIRD COUNTRIES ΤΟ EXPLANATIONS FROM HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ON THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) (BN(0)} PASSPORT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

NO FOREIGN OR COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY HAS SAID IT WOLLT NOT ACCEPT FOR ENTRY TO ITS TERRITORY TRAVELLERS HOLDING BN(0) PASSPORTS.

MR EGGAR WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR IAN TWINN IN THE PARLIAMENT.

IN HIS WRITTEN REPLY, MR EGGAR SAID:

"OVER A PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS WE HAVE CONDUCTED AN INTENSIVE DIPLOMATIC CAMPAIGN TO EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND TO THE 1986 ORDER IN COUNCIL AND THE CREATION THROUGH IT OF THE STATUS OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS).

"WE HAVE DRAWN ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT BRITISH PASSPORTS IN THAT STATUS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM JULY 1, 1987, AND HAVE HANDED OVER SPECIMEN COPIES EXPLAINING THE VARIOUS ENDORSEMENTS WHICH WILL HELP MAKE THE PASSPORT AN EFFECTIVE TRAVEL DOCUMENT BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER

1997.

CLFAR THAT

THE

FULL KNOWLEDGE

AND

ARRANGEMENTS WE ARE UNDERSTANDING OF THE

"WE HAVE ALSO MADE IT INTRODUCING ARE IN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

THE RESPONSE