TNAG-1405-FCO40-1880-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 191

Mr A C Cambridge

MVD

ONFIDENTIAL

Акко40 /8928

Colo

31)

1

FROM: A C Galsworthy

DATE: 27 March 1985

CC: Mr Burrows, Legal Advisers

Mr Grainger, Legal Advisers

Mr Partridge, NTD

Mr Barrington, AUS

;

HONG KONG : INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS)

(BNO) PASSPORTS

1.

Thank you for your minute of 20 March. I am grateful to you for

undertaking to keep us informed about developments over Visa

Abolition Agreements (VAA).

2.

The outcome of our forthcoming negotiations with the Netherlands

Government could have implications for the future of VAA's

generally. In this context, I assume from para 5 of your minute

that what we are seeking is the continuation of existing VAA's and

equal treatment within them for all British Nationals who currently

stand to benefit from them, irrespective of whether such persons

have the right of abode. in the

UK. Clearly a strong argument we

should deploy with the Netherlands

any other Government,

that all British Nationals covered by a VAA have the right of

thus no question of such persons

There

somewhere.

"non-returnable"

is

with or

is

abode

being

Al 1 BN (0) s will be returnable to Hong Kong.

on Hong Kong's future

is that

An important aspect of the agreement it provides for the right of abode in the future Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region of the PRC for those who are BDTCs by virtue

expect BN(0) passports,

There

We

when

is thus no question of countries

immigration policies

by allowing Hong Kong

same enjoy the

facilities as BN(0)s that they have

their fear,

make this point very

of

connection a

with Hong Kong.

issued, to refer to this.

compromising

their

Chinese to

BDTCS. I f this is

indeed.

must we

as

firmly

CONFIDENTIAL