TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 117

GRS 250

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2426

OF 06075OZ NOVEMBER 85

INFO PRIORITY SINGAPORE

CONFIDENTIAL

PARA. 3 OF YOUR TELNO 1636: HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED :

ACCEPTABILITY OF BN(0) PASSPORTS: SINGAPORE.

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY BRIEFED THE COMMISSIONER SINGAPORE

UNOFFICIALLY TODAY ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOP THE ISSUE OF NEW BM(0)

PASSPORTS. HE EMPHASISED THE INFORMAL NATURE OF THE DISCUSSIONS

PENDING HMG'S FORMAL APPROACH TO THIRD COUNTRIES AFTER THE ORDER

IN COUNCIL HAD BEEN ENACTED (PROBABLY IN MID 1986). HE SAID HE

WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HAVE BEFORE THE LEGCO DEBATE IN EARLY

DECEMBER ANY UNOFFICIAL REACTIONS IN RESPECT OF POSSIBLE DIFFICULTY

OFFICIALS IN SINGAPORE MIGHT FORESEE OVER THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORTS.

2. THE COMMISSIONER SINGAPORE UNDERTOOK TO REPORT BACK ANY REACTIONS

FROM SINGAPORE. THE ONLY POSSIBLE PROBLEM HE COULD THINK OF AT

THE MOMENT WAS IN RESPECT OF REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS. HE ASKED

WHAT HELP COULD BE EXPECTED FROM BRITISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES.

HE THOUGHT THAT IF BN(0)5 OVERSTAYED IN LARGE NUMBERS AFTER 1997,

THIS COULD POSE A PROBLEM TO COUNTRIES WHOSE RESOURCES WERE NOT

GEARED TO HANDLING LARGE NUMBERS OF OVERSTAYERS.

3. IN REPLY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO ASSURE THE

COMMISSIONER THAT THE SAME REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS APPLYING TO

BDTCS WOULD APPLY TO BN (0)S UP TO 1997 AND THAT AFTER 1997 BN (0)S

OVERSTAYING IN SINGAPORE WOULD BE DEALT WITH BY BRITISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER BRITISH NATIONALS.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

MR WILSON

CONFIDENTIAL