TNAG-1382-FCO40-1830-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 34

PP HONG KONG

GRS 524

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FM FCO 191215Z JUN 85

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

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TOP COPY

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 4 JUN 1985

OTOK OFFICER

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 857 OF 20 JUNE

FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY

PEKING TELNO 933: BN (0) PASSPORTS AND ENTRY CERTIFICATES

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1. AS YOU KNOW WE WERE AWAITING THE RESULT OF YOUR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF THE US CONSULATE GENERAL IN ISSUING INDEFINITE MULTIPLE USE VISAS BEFORE TAKING FURTHER ACTION ON THE QUESTION OF THE PERIOD OF VALIDITY OF ENTRY CERTIFICATES.

2.

WE ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTION IN WHICH SOME UMELCO MEMBERS SEEM TO BE MOVING ON THE QUESTION OF THE ABOLITION OF ENTRY CERTIFICATES FOR VISITORS FROM HONG KONG. SINCE WE THINK ABOLITION WOULD IN FACT BE DISADVANTAGEOUS TO BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS WE WONDER WHETHER IT WOULD NOT BE ADVISABLE TO TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THE UMELCO MEMBERS CONCERNED INFORMALLY THE IMPLICATIONS OF ABOLITION.

3.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE MERE ABOLITION OF ENTRY CERTIFICATES WOULD NOT GIVE THE HOLDER OF A BN(0) PASSPORT QUOTE FREE AND UNRESTRICTED ENTRY TO THE UK UNQUOTE. ONLY THE GRANT OF RIGHT OF

ABODE IN THE UK WOULD DO THAT AND THAT IS CLEARLY OUT OF THE QUESTION. SO LONG AS THERE IS A RESTRICTION ON RIGHT OF ABODE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT (AND INDEED THE DUTY) OF AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER TO EXAMINE ARRIVALS AT THE PORT OF ENTRY AND TO ENDORSE THEIR PASSPORTS WITH A PERMITTED LENGTH OF STAY. 4. IF THE ENTRY CERTIFICATE SYSTEM WERE ABOLISHED FOR PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG, THE MOST LIKELY RESULT WOULD BE

THAT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WOULD BE EVEN MORE CAREFUL IN CHECKING VISITORS FROM HONG KONG, WHO WOULD THEREFORE PROBABLY BE SUBJECT TO MORE INCONVENIENCE THAN THEY ARE NOW. I KNOW THAT IT IS SAID IN HONG KONG THAT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER ONE HAS AN ENTRY

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