TNAG-1359-FCO40-1800-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1985 — Page 210

XM(85) 5

SECRET

- 38

4B

at a briefing he had been asked if third countries would

accept

'British National (Overseas)' passports as

evidence of right of abode in the Hong Kong SAR. He had

said that in addition to such passports SAR identity

cards would have to be produced. His understanding of

the terms of the Joint Declaration was that the

passports themselves would

would not state that the holders

had permanent right of abode; only that they were

holders of Hong Kong permanent identity cards. It was

these cards which would state the right

the right of abode. He

thought that the Chinese would object to 'British

National (Overseas)' passports containing such a

The Attorney General thought that there was

Statement.

an

alternative:

the passport could state that the

bearer was the holder of a Hong Kong permanent identity

card which in turn stated that he had right of abode in

Hong Kong. After some discussion the Governor said that

the point should be pursued further with the Chinese on

the basis that 'British National (Overseas)' passports

should state that the bearers were in turn holders of

identity cards which stipulated

stipulated that the holders had

rights of abode in the Hong Kong SAR.

should be asked what possible objection there could be

to such an arrangement. It would

would be clear that the

right of abode flowed from the identity card not from

the passport. He thought that this issue would be

raised at the Committee Stage of the Hong Kong Bill and,

The Chinese

SECRET

Page 210Page 211

XM(85) 5