TNAG-1192-FCO40-1494-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

would one day end. We may not have given enough thought to the holders of such passports in these circumstances.

This was highlighted recently when a BPP passport holder resident in the United Kingdom found diffi- culty in renewing her British passport with the Brunei authorities and wrote to her Member of Parliament who happens to be the Attorney General. We know that there are others like her in the wings and that the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants appears to be preparing to sponsor their cause.

The dilemma is that if the holders were stateless when the BPP passports were issued, on what grounds can those passports fairly be withdrawn now when the holders' status remains unchanged?

It may be that the decision to allow the Bruneians to issue such passports was in this respect an irremediable mistake. One solution we are consider- ing is that although no further such passports will be issued to first applicants, IIMG (which would mean you in most cases) might issue replacements on application to people in these circumstances who already hold BPP passports. As BPP status cannot be transmitted the category and with it the problem would die away over the years.

We would find it helpful to have your advice on the likely present number of such irregular BPP passports in circulation, and on the other points above by 3 November so that we can present your views in a dis- cussion with Ministers of a draft letter to the Attorney General.

In the light of what Ministers decide we shall return to the question of your reply to the Sultan!'

28 October 1982

Chris Laplan

C J Howells

Howells

Nationality & Treaty Dept

Cc:-

Mr Partridge, MVD

Mr Longmire, Research Dept Mr McQuade, HKGD

CONFIDENTIAL