TNAG-1406-FCO40-1881-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 164

CONFIDENTIAL

Mericans

are not able to

DSR 11C

to explain to the that they cannot make agreements

direct with the DT since the UK is responsible for their

external relations. You should also point out

as

para](a) that BDTC generally have right of abode

"net manabichts"

in their DT of origin, and the Mexicans need not) fear

concerned abs as their

人

them somewhere if necessary, and (b) the DT (except

[sub

еве

that if they admit them they will not be able to return

་

for special cases like the Falkland Islands and Ascunsion)

do not impose a visa requirement on Mexicans.

5. If the Mexicans ask about the status of the 1959

VAA you should say that we would regard it as covering

British passport holders other than BDTC (i.e. British

citizens (BC) British Overseas Citiznes (BOC) and British

Subjects under Section IV, BNA 1981). This is an awkward

subject which we would prefer to avoid discussing in detail

it since would highlight the situation of BOCS. We would

not wish their status to complicate the matter of visa

free entry toBDTC or for them to become subject to a visa

requirement. However, if the Mexicans insist on raising

the issue you may say that the FCO notified all

diplomatic msssions in London (including the Mexican

Embassy by a circular dated 11 October 1982 - copy

attached) that it was out intention to interpret the

mention of nationality nomenclature on existing inter-

national arrangements or agreements in the light of the

provisions of the BNA 1981. There is no record of the

Mexicans having found this unacceptable hence our

interpretation of the 1959 Agreement. Of course there

may be some BOCS or British Subjects (or people who

become such on 1 January 1983) bearing BT passports and

/thu