GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2449
OF 080959Z NOVEMBER 85
INFO PRIORITY MANILA
ooi
CONFIDENTIAL
259
TOP COPY
PARA. 3 OF FCO TELNO 1636: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED : ACCEPTABILITY OF BN (0) PASSPORT : PHILIPPINES.
IN INFORMAL DISCUSSION WITH SECRETARY FOR SECURITY TODAY, THE ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL OF PHILIPPINES REMARKED THAT IN VIEW OF THE SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC FLOW BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE PHILLIPINES AND THE INTENTION OF HIS GOVERNMENT TO HELP TO MAINTAIN STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG, THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT (NOT) REACT IN A WAY THAT MIGHT DISRUPT A SMOOTH TRANSITION. HE INDICATED UNOFFICIALLY THAT HE SAW NO SERIOUS PROBLEM IN HIS GOVERNMENT ACCEPTING THE NEW BN (0) PASSPORT PROVIDED THAT RETURNABILITY WAS GUARANTEED. NEVERTHELESS, HE ADDED THAT VISA ABOLITION ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT HAVE TO BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF
CHANGES.
2. ON THE QUESTION OF RETURNABILITY, THE CONSUL-GENERAL AND HIS ASSISTANT WERE ASSURED THAT WITH A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN BN(0) PASSPORTS, THERE COULD BE NO QUESTION ABOUT A BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDER'S RETURNABILITY TO HONG KONG BEFORE OR AFTER 1997.
THE CONSUL-GENERAL ALSO ENQUIRED ABOUT THE LIKELY ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF REPATRIATION AFTER 1997. HE WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE SAR GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO ACCEPT BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A CLEAR STATEMENT ON WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF HMG WOULD BE IN RESPECT OF REPATRIATION. THE ANSWER TO THE SECOND POINT WOULD SEEM TO BE THAT THE RIGHT OF ABODE OF THE HOLDERS OF BN(0) PASSPORTS WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SAR GOVERNMENT NOT
TO ACCEPT THEM BACK.
4. THE CONSUL-GENERAL CONCLUDED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE DEFINITE COMMENTS ONLY AFTER HMG'S FORMAL APPROACH TO HIS GOVERNMENT PREFERABLY WITH SPECIMENS OF THE NEW BN (0) PASSPORTS.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
HAK 040/28
RECEIVEO LA REGISTRY
INDE
8 NOV 1985
ALUSTRY
Suun Faken
RESEARCH D (FE)
D/HD PUSD
MR WILSON
← HD SEAD.
10/5
CONFIDENTIAL
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