TNAG-1378-FCO40-1826-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 154

NOTES ON AMENDMENTS

SCHEDULE

PARAGRAPH TWO: NATIONALITY

AMENDMENT NO

RESIST

LINE TO TAKE

CONFIDENTIAL

I will now consider amendment no

- 22 -

Paragraph 2 of the Schedule does not cover the provisions in the UK Memorandum relating to the issue of passports. These provisions

will be implemented under the Royal Prerogative in the usual

way.

The UK Memorandum makes the Government's intention absolutely clear. Persons who are BDTCs by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong will be eligible to acquire a status which will enable them to use passports issued by the Government. UK Consular officials will be able to renew and replace these passports after 1 July 1997. The intention of the rt hon Member for Down South is presumably to deny former BDTCs the right to hold British passports after 1997. Their eligibility to hold passports was part of the package that was found acceptable by the people of Hong Kong and by this House, and I urge the Committee to reject the amendment.

CONFIDENTIAL