TNAG-1381-FCO40-1829-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 51

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Q6. NEED TO CARRY SAR IDENTITY CARD AS WELL AS BNO PASSPORT?

A6. BNO PASSPORT WILL INCLUDE SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO IDENTITY CARD AND SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN SUBJECT TO CLEARANCE WITH THE CHINESE : MY TELNO 257 SQUARE BRACKETS END TO THE FACT THAT IDENTITY CARD STATES RIGHT OF ABODE. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES THERE SHOULD BE NO NEED TO SHOW IDENTITY CARD TO IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES IN THIRD COUNTRIES. WHETHER IDENTITY CARDS NEED TO BE SHOW ON LEAVING AND RE-ENTERE ING SAR IS FOR SAR GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE.

Q7. STEPS TO ENSURE ACCEPTANCE OF BNO PASSPORTS IN THIRD COUNTRIES.

A7. HMG HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO EXPLAIN ARRANGEMENTS

TO THIRD COUNTRIES. GIVEN CLEAR INDICATION OF RIGHT OF

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ABODE NO REASON FOR THIRD COUNTRIES TO INTRODUCE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON ENTRY OF BNO PASSPORT HOLDERS. (GRATEFUL IF FCO COULD SUPPLY

FURTHER MATERIAL REQUESTED IN MY TELNO. 234).

Q8. STATELESSNESS.

AS. ALL HONG KONG BDTCS ELIGIBLE TO ACQUIRE BNO STATUS, SO NO

QUESTION OF STATELESSNESS AMONG THEM. CHILDREN BORN IN SAR AFTER

1997 TO BNQ'S WILL, IF THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE STATELESS, ACQUIRE

BOC AT BIRTH.

Q9. POSITION OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT BDTC'S?

A9. THEY WOULD PRESUMABLY RETAIN WHATEVER NATIONALITY STATUS

THEY HAVE AT PRESENT. NATIONALITY OF PERSONS WHO DO NOT HAVE

BRITISH NATIONALITY IS NOT FOR HMG TO DETERMINE.

Q10. TIMING OF ISSUE OF BNO PASSPORTS?

A10. NO DECISION YET. BUT UNDER TERMS OF UK MEMORANDUM INITIAL

ISSUE OF BNO PASSPORTS MUST BE COMPLETED BY 30 JUNE 1997, EXCEPT

IN RESPECT OF CHILDREN BORN IN FIRST HALF OF 1997. AT THE SAME TIME, BDTC STATUS WILL REMAIN UP TO 30 JUNE 1997. WILL BE PERIOD

OVER WHICH BDTC AND BNO WILL BE HELD CONCURRENTLY BY HONG KONG

PEOPLE.

Q11. HOW CAN BNO PASSPORT ISSUED BEFORE 30 JUNE 1997 REFER TO

SAR IDENTITY CARD WHICH CANNOT BE ISSUED UNTIL 1 JULY 1997 AT

EARLIEST?

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