TNAG-0979-FCO40-1198-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1980 — Page 134

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COMMUNITY PASSPORT, DOES NOT AFFECT THE PRESENT PROBLEM, FOR SEVERAL

REASONS THE PROPOSAL IS FOR A COMMON FORMAT (RATHER THAN A COMMON)

PASSPORT, SO SOME OF THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF NATIONAL PASSPORTS, WILL BE RETAINED: IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO COLONIAL

BELONGERS, AS THEY WILL NOT HAVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WITHIN THE HEC:

AND IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER WE (AND OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERS) WILL

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BE ABLE TO RECONCILE THIS CONCEPT WITH OUR SEPARATE AGREEMENT TO A

MOVE IN ICAO FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF MACHINE READABLE PASSPORTS. IF WE DO GO 'MACHINE READABLE', THE NATIONALITY DESIGNATIONS IN

BRITISH PASSPORTS WILL TO SOME EXTENT DEPEND ON AGREED

INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS AND PRACTICE. BUT THIS IS SOME WAY OFF.

5. I HOPE THAT THIS HAS MADE CLEARER TO YOU WHAT THE

DIFFICULTIES ARE AT THIS END, AND WHY WE ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE

TO SATISFY YOUR AND OUR 'CHINESE CONCERNS AS FULLY AS WE SHOULD

LIKE. BUT THESE CONCERNS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE SHALL DO OUR

BEST TO MEET THEM. WE SHALL OF COURSE LET YOU KNOW IN DUE COURSE OF

ANY DECISIONS THAT ARE TAKEN HERE.

SIGNED R C FURSLAND

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