TNAG-1387-FCO40-1835-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1986 — Page 141

2

in the BN(0) passport may lead to unnecessary suspicion, of Immigration officials in third countries.

There may be two stages to the problem.

Before 1st July 1997, there are British passports

The

issued by the U.K. and Hong Kong endorsed with the right of abode in Hong Kong. There are also British passports issued by the U.K. and Hong Kong endorsed with the right to land. introduction of the BN(0) passports into circulation with yet another wording of endorsement will only add to the confusion that already exist, and prompt more question by immigration officials elsewhere,not the least of which would be a demand to see the identity card. Wouldn't this defeat the aims set for by the British Government as voiced by Mr. Luce.

+

After 1st July 1997 BN(0) passport holders may be faced with immigration authorities who may not be familiar with the details contained in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, in which 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

agree to the administrative BDTCs that Britain and China practice of putting a certificate of right of abode as advocated by the United Kingdom Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in 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.