TNAG-0354-FCO40-390-Legislation-for-immigration-and-deportation-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 6

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HLR/CATA

FI HONG KONG 08674GZ

CONFIDENTIAL

الأذا

100/10 18/10

TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 1202 OF 8TH DECEMBER, 1972.

HONG KONG PASSPORTS.

FOLLOWING THE DECISION TO START NEXT MONTH ON THE ISSUE OF NEW U.K. PASSPORTS IN A SLIGHTLY CHANGED FORMAT, PARALLEL CHANGES ARE TO BE MADE IN THE FORMAT OF HONG KONG PASSPORTS WHEN NEW STOCKS CAN BE PRINTED, PROBABLY ABOUT JUNE 1973. AMONGST THESE CHANGES IS THE SUBSTITUTION OF ''RESIDENCE' FOR ''COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE''.

'

2. THE CHINESE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AT THE BORDER HAVE ON A NUMBER OF RECENT OCCASIONS LECTURED PEOPLE WHOSE PASSPORTS SHOWED

HONG KONG AS THEIR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE, ON THE GROUND THAT HONG KONG IS NOT A COUNTRY. THE CHANGE TO BE MADE SHOULD HELP OBVIATE THIS MINOR IRRITANT, WHICH WILL BE VERY WELCOME, BUT WE SHOULD NOT WISH TO GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF MAKING IT IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE.

3. OUR PRESENT INTENTION IS TO EXPLAIN THAT WE SHALL SIMPLY FOLLOW THE U.K.'S LEAD. IN CASE WE ARE QUESTIONED, IT WILL BE OF ASSISTANCE TO KNOW WHY THE FORMAT OF U.K, PASSPORTS IS BEING CHANGED, IN PARTICULAR THE CHANGE CONCERNING COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE'', WHETHER YOU WILL BE MAKING A PUBLIC STATEMENT ABOUT THESE CHANGES AND, IF SO, WHAT YOU WILL BE SAYING (PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE CHANGE MENTIONED), AND WHEN IT WILL BE SAID.

FCO PASS COPY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,

MACLEHOSE

FILES:

EKIOD

PASSPORI

D

GRE

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

harsal

Ich leh hand

o No 70.

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