XN000022-1993-03-31 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993

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PHASED PROGRAMME FOR BN (0) APPLICATIONS

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THE GOVERNMENT HOPES TO INTRODUCE A PHASED PROGRAMME FROM THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR FOR BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENS (BDTCS) WHO WISH TO ACQUIRE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) (BNO) PASSPORTS.

THIS IS SEEN AS THE ONLY PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO OVERCOME LAST- MINUTE APPLICATIONS WHICH COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE HANDLED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, DR SIMON VICKERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN ATTENDING THE LEGCO SUB COMMITTEE ON NATIONALITY.

HE SAID THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN THOROUGHLY EXAMINED AND VARIOUS OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

THE PROPOSAL WAS EXPLAINED TO THE SUB COMMITTEE IN RESPONSE TO THEIR EARLIER QUESTION AS TO HOW THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO AVOID A LAST-MINUTE RUSH ON BN (0) APPLICATIONS IN EARLY 1997.

"BDTCS WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR BN (0) PASSPORTS WOULD BE CALLED FORWARD BY AGE GROUPS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS ΤΟ LODGE THEIR APPLICATIIONS," HE SAID.

DR VICKERS EMPHASISED THAT THE ACQUISITION OF THE BN(0) STATUS WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY VOLUNTARY. ONLY THOSE WHO WISH TO CONTINUE TO TRAVEL ON A BRITISH PASSPORT BEYOND 1997 AND DO NOT ALREADY HAVE A BN (0) PASSPORT WOULD NEED TO APPLY.

THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY GOT A BN (0) PASSPORT WOULD NOT NEED TO APPLY AGAIN.

THE PROGRAMME WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT BY ORDER-IN-COUNCIL TO THE UNITED KINGDOM'S HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986.

THE ORDER PUT BEFORE THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT FOR APPROVAL WOULD CONTAIN PROVISIONS FOR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PREVENTED FROM APPLYING ON TIME B SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT DR VICKERS SAID WANTING MORE TIME TO CONSIDER WOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS A VALID REASON COVERED BY THIS PROVISION.

IF PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE PROPOSALS, THE FIRST SLOT WOULD FROM JULY TO OCTOBER AND WOULD COVER BDTCS AGED 22-26.

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"FURTHER DETAILS WOULD BE ANNOUNCED AS AND WHEN THE ORDER IS AGREED BY PARLIAMENT, DR VICKERS SAID.

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HE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986, HONG KONG BDTCS WOULD CEASE TO BE SUCH CITIZENS ON JULY 1, 1997, BUT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS BN (0)S AND TO HOLD OR BE INCLUDED IN BN(0) PASSPORTS BEFORE THAT DATE.

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