XN000022-1994-02-02 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

SECOND,

HERE AGAIN WE HAVE PUT PROPOSALS ΤΟ

THE

WE

THAT

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

THE

FOR CHINESE IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP ON TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

HONG KONG PEOPLE BEFORE 1997 OVER THE TRANSITION IN 1997 AND AFTER 1997. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN CO-OPERATION AND PROGRESS ON THIS SUBJECT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE BNO PASSPORT HAS ACHIEVED FULL INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1987. NOT ONLY IS IT RECOGNISED BY ALL OF THE COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO OFFERS REASONABLE EASE AND CONVENIENCE OF TRAVEL. 70 COUNTRIES ALLOW BNO PASSPORT HOLDERS VISA-FREE ACCESS.

TO THIS CRUCIAL

HAS BEEN THE ASSURANCE THAT FOREIGN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES OF THE RETURNABILITY OF BNO PASSPORT HOLDERS THROUGH

HOLDER HAS INCLUSION IN EACH BNO PASSPORT OF A STATEMENT THAT THE

IN RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG. THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS WERE AGREED

KONG WHO THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, SECONDLY, OTHER RESIDENTS OF HONG HOLD CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY HAVE ALSO

RETURNABILITY HAD THEIR

INCLUSION OF GUARANTEED IN THEIR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS SINCE 1987 BY THE THE SAME STATEMENT ON THE HOLDER'S RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG. HAVE

WITH AGREED

THE

IN THE CHINESE

LIAISON JOINT

GROUP CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY ISSUED BEFORE 1 JULY 1997 WILL HAVE A 10-YEAR THEY ARE VALIDITY AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE USED AFTER THAT DATE UNTIL

THE SAME

MADE

DOCUMENTS EXPIRING.

FOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTITY. THESE ARRANGEMENTS ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR A BROAD CHANGE 1 JULY 1997. HOLDERS OF THESE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS NEED NOT RUSH TO OBTAIN NEW SAR

BUT AS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS UPON THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY. MEMBERS HAVE POINTED OUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE TIMELY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISSUE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BY THE HONG KONG SAR GOVERNMENT. TO THIS THAT END, WE HAVE DRAWN UP PROPOSALS ON THE TYPES OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

THEM. WE THE SAR GOVERNMENT WILL NEED TO ISSUE AND ELIGIBILITY FOR HANDED THIS PROPOSAL TO THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE JLG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHINESE ON THIS LAST

WE HOPE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH YEAR.

WILL IMPORTANT MATTERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG BE BEST SERVED BY BOTH SIDES WORKING IN CO-OPERATION ON THIS IMPORTANT TRANSITIONAL MATTER. I WOULD NOT AT THIS STAGE WISH TO GO INTO GREATER DETAIL ON WHAT ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT BE MADE FOR THE ISSUE OF THESE WITH THE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

WILL DEPEND UPON OUR DISCUSSION THAT CHINESE. BUT THERE ARE CLEAR ADVANTAGES FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION HONG KONG TRAVEL DOCUMENTS CONTINUING TO BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, THE EXPERTISE AND NECESSARY FOR THIS TASK.

OF

ON

IN

IMMIGRATION THE RECORDS

/THIRD,

VISA

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