TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 167

ME3ADZ

BACKGROUND

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A White Paper containing the Hong Kong Nationality Order in Council

was published on 17

October. The purpose of the Order is to

implement the Exchange of Memoranda on nationality associated with

the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. The Order provides

for British Dependent Territories citizens by virtue of a connection

with Hong Kong to lose that status

that status on 1 July 1997, and to acquire a

new form of nationality known as British National (Overseas), which

they may retain for the rest of their lives.

The Order in Council does not deal with passport matters, which are

a matter of prerogative, but we have explained publicly that BN (O) passports will be introduced

be introduced on 1 July 1987 and issued in Hong Kong

by the Governor acting as agent of the Secretary of State. The

passport will be in the same format as that issued by UK passport issuing posts to other British nationals, and will be endorsed to show that the holder possesses a Hong Kong ID card as proof of his or her right of abode in Hong Kong. We are discussing the wording

of that endorsement with the Chinese Government.

The

international acceptability of BN(O) passports i s one of the

main issues of concern in Hong Kong. The Government has committed

itself to doing all that it can to secure the s ame

countries for BN (O)s as for BDTCs.

before the issue

of

We intend to

access to other

start explaining

has been made in

Vice in 1987.

that the US will

the new status to other countries after the Order

and early 1986

the passports

President Bush has already helpfully announced

accept BN (O) passports.

Mr Bruinvels regularly asks questions on Hong Kong.

The answer has been agreed with NTD and the Home Office.

Hong Kong Department

25 October 1985

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