THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1993
PHASED PROGRAMME FOR ELIGIBLE PERSONS
TO APPLY FOR BNO PASSPORTS
THE PROPOSAL FOR AN ORDERLY AND FAIR PROGRAMME FOR THE REGISTRATION AND ISSUE OF BRITISH NATIONAL (
(OVERSEAS) PASSPORTS BEFORE 1997 WAS FORMALLY PUT BEFORE THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT TODAY (THURSDAY).
IT GIVES LEGAL BACKING FOR A SERIES OF CUT-OFF DATES FOR APPLICATIONS BY AGE-GROUPS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THIS PHASED PROGRAMME WAS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS WHO WISHED TO HAVE A BRITISH NATIONAL PASSPORT AFTER 1997 COULD GET ONE.
(OVERSEAS)
THE BN(0) PASSPORTS MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE JULY 1, 1997.
"SINCE THERE ARE ABOUT THREE MILLION APPLICANTS, IF WE LET THINGS DRIFT, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE A LAST-MINUTE RUSH AND SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THEIR PASSPORT, HE SAID.
"NO RIGHTS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY. AS A RESULT OF THE HOME SECRETARY'S CONCESSION THIS WEEK, PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE BDTC PASSPORT UP TO ITS EXPIRY ON JULY 1, 1997 IF THEY WISH.
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IN THE MEMORANDA ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS AGREED THAT THE BDTCS WILL BE ABLE ΤΟ TRAVEL ON ANOTHER BRITISH PASSPORT (SUBSEQUENTLY KNOWN AS BNO PASSPORT) AFTER JUNE 30, 1997, PROVIDED THAT THE NEW PASSPORT IS OBTAINED BEFORE JULY 1, 1997.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS CHILDREN BORN IN THE FIRST HALF OF THEY MAY APPLY FOR BNO PASSPORTS UP TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER 1997.
1997.
"WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL IN ORDER TO MINIMISE THE PROBLEM OF A LAST-MINUTE RUSH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICANTS WHO MISSED THEIR CUT-OFF DATES FOR GOOD REASONS WOULD BE TREATED SYMPATHETICALLY, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
CONSIDERING
"AS A MEASURE OF GOOD FAITH, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW AN APPEAL PANEL, WITH A MAJORITY OF LEGCO MEMBERS, ΤΟ ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON LATE APPLICATIONS.
** BUT IF HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT CITIZENS WANT A BNO PASSPORT, THEN THEY SHOULD COME FORWARD AT ANY TIME FROM NOW UNTIL THEIR CUT-OFF DATE."
/THE CUT-OFF
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