TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 114

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A.

Mr Galsworthy, HKD

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CONFIDENTIAL

Reference..

256

A

BN(0) PASSPORTS AND ENTRY CERTIFICATES

1

We now have a considered Home Office reply to your letter 14 of 17 September, in which we put forward EX CO's proposals that (a) HMG should not provide entry certificates for BN(0) passport holders and (b) that

that the period of validity of multiple-visit entry certificates for BDTC passport holders should be extended to the life of the passport in which they are placed.

2.

Our

The Home Office have replied

replied predictably that both proposals are unacceptable, despite

The advocacy of (b). most convincing of the Home Office's arguments against (b) in my view is that

that only 14 long validity multiple-entry certificates were issued last year. Their main argument, that circumstances can change in 10 years, and that to issue certificates with as long a validity as

validity as we propose would make them worthless, is less

I strong.

do not believe that the difference between the existing 4 years and our proposal of up to

our proposal of up to 10 years is all that substantial.

3.

We can now either:

(a)

(b)

are

go back to Hong Kong and tell them that both proposals have been rejected by

by the Home Office, but that we prepared to press (b) further if they wish;

and

90 back to the Home Office advocating (b) further, only when we have a further response go back to Hong Kong.

I favour (a) because I do not see that we have any useful counter arguments to the Home Office at the moment, and because Hong Kong unless we will suspect

we have dropped the whole issue inform them of progress. If you agree I will draft a telegram to Hong Kong,

that

6 November 1985

CONFIDENTIAL

Jonathan Poul.

J N Powell

Hong Kong Department K 221

233 3918

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HKH 040/28.

RECEIVE: MIRAGISTRY

# 1 NOV 1985

STRY

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