TNAG-1382-FCO40-1830-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 8

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4

June 1997 except for practical reasons, in respect of children born in the first half of 1997.

BN (0)

But,

passport is understood and

so long as the accepted in third countries

-

and I have referred to

make every

seem to be

rather than

the British Government's commitment to

effort to secure

this

-

there would

At the same

advantage in introducing it earlier

later to those who wish to use it.

time, given that BDTC status will be retained up to 30 June 1997, it will obviously be possible for

those who wish to continue to travel on BDTC

passports until that date to do so.

Detailed

arrangements have, however, yet to be worked out.

8

00

Mrs Chow has also commented, and so too has

Mr CHEUNG Yan-lung, on the system of entry

certificates for the United Kingdom. I must emphasise that entry certificates are not visas for

the simple reason that a holder of a British Dependent Territories Citizen passport does not

require such an authority to enter

the United

Kingdom, even though he is subject to immigration control. Entry certificates are designed solely to facilitate immigration clearance at United Kingdom ports of entry, and DTC passport holders who choose

not to obtain such entry certificates are not

thereby debarred from entry. In other words, their

use is entirely optional. Furthermore, BDTCs who wish to use entry certificates and who have a a need

to visit the United

the United Kingdom frequently may obtain certificates which are valid for two years and may be used for multiple entry.

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While still on passports and associated issues, perhaps I could comment on several points of detail which Mr Cheung has raised.

J