TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 190

GRO 400

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 24130OZ FCO

TELNO 2311

OF 24104OZ OCTOBER 85

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, OTTAWA.

HKK

0+0/28

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

29 OCT 1985

120+

DES

INDEX

FFICER

THY

PA

Acton Taken

心

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ACCEPTABILITY OF BM(0) PASSPORTS.

1. THERE IS STILL INTENSE MEDIA INTEREST HERE IN THE DNO PASSPORT

AND ITS CONNECTION WITH THE NEW 1.D. CARD AND CORRESPONDENTS ARE

LIKELY TO PROBE CLOSELY ON THESE ISSUES AT MR RCNTON'S PRESS

CONFERENCE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE SHOULD BE READY TO GIVE CLEAR

ANSWERS ON THREE PARTICULAR ISSUES.

2. THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) FIRST IS THAT HE MUST BE ABLE TO SAY

THAT HMG IS DOING ITS BEST TO GET THE WORDING OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT CLEARED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE DEBATES ON THE WHITE PAPER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IN PARLIAMENT (SEE FIRST MIFT ON WHAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THIS END). AS MR LUCE STATED IN THE BEBATE ON THE HONG KONG BILL, THE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL NEED USE HIS PASSPORT - AND NOT HAVE TO SUPPLY AND ID CARD ONLY TO SATISFY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS IN THIRD COUNTRIES THAT HE HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG,'

1

3. THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) SECOND POINT CONTAINS THE ACCEPTABILITY OF NBN(0) PASSPORTS IN THE UK. IT WILL BE MOST IMPORTANT THAT MR. RENTON IS IN A POSITION TO SAY CATEGORICALLY THAT BOTH UP TO AND BEYOND 1997 BN(0) PASSPORTS WILL BE AS ACCEPTABLE IN THE UK AS BDTC PASSPORTS ARE NOW, AND THE SAME RULES WILL APPLY TO BOTH. IF, AC IS LIKELY, THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF ENTRY IS RAISED, WE SUGGEST THE STANDARD REPLY THAT FOR 3DTCS VISITING THE UK CERTICICATES OF ENTRY ARE NOT (NOT) OBLIGATORY. NOR WILL THEY BE OBLIGATORY FOR 2N(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS.

4. THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) THIRD ISSUE IS THE POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CANADIANS (YOUR TELNO 2264). IF THESE DIFFICULTIES BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE (AS THEY WELL MIGHT) MA. RENTON WILL NEED TO BE IN A POSITION TO SAY THAT HMG IS AWAPE OF POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE CANADIANS: THAT HE BELIEVES THESE ARE NOT INSUPERABLE: AND THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS IN TOUCH WITH THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT THEM (SEE MY SECOND IFT)

YOUDE

206

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