TNAG-1405-FCO40-1880-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

DSR 11C

in

be possible because of the need to control terrorism,

drug smuggling etc. For our own reasons we shall not

accept the Commission's proposal that the presentation of

an unopened CFP means that the person concerned goes

unchecked at intra-Community frontiers. Nothing will change

very fast in this field: the difficulties are formidable

as the Benelux, France and Germany are discovering

their efforts to do away with controls at their joint land

frontiers. It seems probable that the presentation for

only cursory examination of a CFP will be an essential

element in such arrangements which will progressively

reduce the delay and irritation involved in crossing

frontiers within the Community. We do not wish to give our

Partners grounds for complaint that the passports of British

nationals with or without EC rights are not readily

distinguishable.

4. I have therefore carefully considered the proposed

arrangement for British nationals without EC rights from

the point of view of satisfying ourselves that the passports

of EC and non-EC British nationals will be visibly different.

For the reasons set out in paragraph 2 above, I do not think

that we could contemplate the issue of an entirely different

type of passport to British nationals without EC rights:

nor a CFP format with additional external markings.

passport would be widely seen as a second class passport.

Such a

I conclude however that there should be some differentiation

and this should be achieved by omission of European markings

and particularly the words 'European Community' on the

cover. I hope you can agree.

5. I am copying this minute to the Prime Minister and OD(E)

colleagues.

CONFIDENTIAL