TNAG-1094-FCO40-1344-European-Community-common-format-passports-Hong-Kong-and-Dep-1981 — Page 5

Mr Paterson NTD

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Reference......

HKK 343/2

AVES IN RECASTY NO. 51

19 NOV 1981

DESK OPHIOTE INDEX

PA

15/12

111112

"P

PASSPORTS FOR HONG KONG CHINESE

-12

Your letter of 2 November to Mr Eaden was not, as far as I am aware, cleared with this Department. We have read it with

1.

some concern.

2. You say at the end of your second paragraph that you would not wish to rule out introducing some significant new difference between passports issued in the UK and those issued in the dependencies at some future date in advance of the introduction of the European Community common format passport. This appears to be at variance with what was said to Hong Kong in our telegram numbers 241 and 248. In the latter we stated that the choice rests with Dependent Territories whether to adopt EC format type passports or retain the present one.

(10)

3. Any move away from our stated position will be viewed with great suspicion in Hong Kong and we would be firmly opposed to it. I should therefore be grateful for your confirmation that you do not intend to change your line on this.

19 November 1981

CODE 18 77

14

P J Williamson

Hong Kong and General Department

BU

nited Pas

24/4

Kweek

CGE

24/11

BU I week

८५८

BUIGEN!

CSE

8/12

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1/12 noted 160 2/2

Uz

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