CONFIDENTIAL
4.
4. We have also agreed in principle with the Home Office that all BN(O) passports should be issued in the name of the Secretary of State (para 6 of your minute). Here too, a primary objective is to ensure the post-1997 validity of BN(O) passports
issued in Hong Kong before 1997.
5. We have yet to agree on an appropriate form of endorsement to show that BN (O) passport holders have the right of abode in [C20 Hong Kong. Our aim is an agreed formula which can be used
before and after 1997. This will require discussion with the Chinese Government and further consideration by ourselves and the
Home Office. We shall keep you informed about developments,
6. Hong Kong wish "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" rather than "British passport" to appear on the front cover of BN(O) passports in order to ensure that the new passport looks as much like the EC cfp as possible (ie the look-alike). It has been suggested that if the passport took this form there would need to be an endorsement in the passport showing that the holder was subject to immigration control. We believe however that the lack of a reference to the EEC on the cover, the identification of national status inside and the endorsement showing that BN(O) passport holders have the right of abode in Hong Kong will be sufficient to differentiate the holder from BC passport holders. (See para 5 of our telno 393 to Hong Kong of 11 March). We know that views in the Home Office are divided
on this point.
7. I appreciate that the points in paras 3, 4 and 6 above have general implications.
10 April 1985
A C Galsworthy
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENTIAL
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