TNAG-1406-FCO40-1881-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 130

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISSUE OF PASSPORTS RECORDING BN (0) STATUS AND SOME RELATED QUESTIONS ABOUT BDTC PASSPORTS

Responsibility for Issue

1. In Hong Kong BN (0) passports will be issued by the Governor acting as agent of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. It will be possible to apply also for passports from Passport Offices in the United Kingdom and from consular posts overseas.

2. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary's assumption of the responsibility for the issue of BN (0) passports in Hong Kong means that references in the passport to the Governor which would not be appropriate beyond 30 June 1997 are removed. It also aids international recognition of the passport since those issued before and after that date would be of the same style.

3. The Governor will continue to be responsible in Hong Kong for the issue of passports in BDTC status.

Passport Format

4. The format of the BN (0) passport will be the same as that issued by Consular posts to other British nationals. Such posts at present issue the traditional blue hard covered passport and the first BN (0)

passports are likely to be issued in that format.

5. There will however be a change in the format of all British

passports as a consequence of the decision to give a common format to the national passports of European Community Member States. Once that change has been made, and the exact timing has yet to be settled, the BN (0) passport will be the same as that issued by