TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 172

There way be a case, therefore, for maintaining the restrictive line in DSP 25. However, we think the results may be unfair. Once a person has exercised his entitlement to readrission he will be readmitted for all time having been aduitted for settlement. Where and when he obtains a pesoport may be quite fortuitous and beyond his control; depending, for instance, on how quickly he fills his passport or where he happens to be when it is lost or stolen. It seems to us arbitrary and wrong that a percou's immigration status should be affected by such accidents. We therefore prefer the view that possession of a United Kingdom passport (not a colonial one) issuedeat any time within the British Isles without endorsement of the holder's immigration status should entitle the holder to readmission, and so to the endorsement to this effect in his current United Kingdom passport.

The view that a person having once acquired an entitlement to readmission in this way should retain it is apported, as it happens, by DSP Volume 1 2.26.2, which refer to any passport issued on or after 1 January 1973 bearing the endorsement.

Clearly it would be desirable to amend DSP Volume 25 when convenient to take account of these views.

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RMB

RM BRADLEY