TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 278

35. WHAT MEASURES WILL HMG TAKE TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW FORM OF BRITISH PASSPORT FOR EDTC'S WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THIRD COUNTRIES?

A5. HMG WILL DO ALL IT CAN TO ENSURE THAT HOLDERS OF THESE PASSPORTS WILL HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS THAT ENJOYED AT PRESENT BY HOLDERS OF BDTC PASSPORTS. THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIRD COUNTRIES WILL NOT RECOGNISE THESE PASSPORTS.

06. WILL BRITISH MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP BE ACCORDED DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS THOSE PROVIDED FOR CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP IN THE HK BILL?

A6. BRITISH MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WILL BE ACCORDED DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES WHEN THE GROUP MEETS IN PEKING.

Q7. WHEN WILL HMG ISSUE THE NEW FORM OF BRITISH PASSPORTS TO HK BDTC'S?

A7. NO DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THE DATE OF ISSUE OF THE NEW FORM OF PASSPORTS.

Q6. WILL PROVISIONS BE MADE IN THOSE ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO GIVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE IN HK, SUCH AS CIVIL SERVANTS?

AB. THE MATTERS TO BE PROVIDED FOR IN ANY ORDER(S) IN COUNCIL OR NATIONALITY ARE SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE HONG KONG BILL.

QP. WHEN WILL THE BILL BE PASSED?

A9. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS STAGE TO FORECAST THE PARLIAMENTARY TIMETABLE. THE BILL WILL HAVE TO BE PASSED BEFORE THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION IS RATIFIED. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION, RATIFICATION HAS TO BE BEFORE 30 JUNE 1985.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

L

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST MR PAKENHAM-WALSH, LEGAL ADVISERS,

(HOME OFFICE)

CONFIDENTIAL HKSO, LONDON.