TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 103

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After 1st July 1997 BN(0) passport holders may be faced with immigration authorities who may not be familiar with the

in which details contained in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, case they may assume the unusual arrangement of nationals of one country needing identity cards issued by another to prove a right of abode might mean these holders either have difficulty or are

reluctant to return.

I urge therefore in order to facilitate the ease of travel, and so as not to place BN (0)s in a worse off position to BDTCs that Britain and China would agree to the administrative practice of putting a certificate of right of abode with the BN(0) passports before and after 1997.

The BDTC passport requires no visa to enter about 70 countries. It is not at all sure whether the visa abolition agreements applicable to BDTC passports will be equally valid for BN(0) passports. Unless and until Britain can assure Hong Kong by the successful conclusion of negotiation with at least the countries with which we presently have visa abolition agreements, the BN(0) passports will certainly be less attractive to BDTCs. Although Britain may not be in a position to predict the outcome of such negotiation, Hong Kong must be told when such talks will BDTCs who start, and by when they are expected to be concluded. are eligible for BN (0) passports have a right to know exactly what the new document requires and exempts.

If they are kept in a state of uncertainty, or if their present convenience is eroded, there is every possibility they will postpone the application for the BN (0) passports until doubts are removed, in which case it would defeat the whole purpose of providing ample lead time to allow familiarization of

these documents.

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