TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 193

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OCMIAN 0193

CONFIDENTIAL

OO HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

231600Z OCT

GRS 304

HKK 040/28.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 9 OCT 1985

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

M

:

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1636

OF 23160OZ OCTOBER 85

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, OTTAWA

85

YOUR TEL NO 2264: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ACCEPTABILITY OF BN (0)

PASSPORTS

1.

GY

AS WE UNDERSTAND IT THE CANADIANS ARE A SPECIAL PROBLEM (PARA 8 OF GALSWORTHY'S LETTER OF 6 JUNE TO BOYD). THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PASSED AN ORDER IN COUNCIL ON 15 APRIL 1983 WHICH PRECLUDES THE ISSUE OF A VISITOR'S VISA TO ANY PERSON WHOSE PASSPORT OR OTHER FORMAL DOCUMENT DOES NOT GIVE THE HOLDER THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE COUNTRY ON WHOSE AUTHORITY THE DOCUMENT WAS ISSUED. THE CANADIANS SUBSEQUENTLY REFUSED TO GRANT VISIT VISAS TO BOCS OR BPPS BECAUSE THEIR PASSPORTS DID NOT INDICATE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK OR IN ANY TERRITORY UNDER BRITISH ADMINISTRATION. BNOS ARE ALSO LIKELY TO FALL FOUL OF THIS, AND IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW WE CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY AN AMENDMENT OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN BN(0) PASSPORTS. AN AMENDMENT TO CANADIAN LEGISLATION WOULD SEEM TO BE NECESSARY.

2.

FURTHERMORE OUR POSITION ON THE ENDORSEMENT IS VERY TIGHTLY CIRCUMSCRIBED BY THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND KNOWN CHINESE SENSITIVITIES. WE SHOULD NOT THEREFORE HOLD OUT ANY HOPES THAT THE PROPOSED ENDORSEMENT COULD BE CHANGED IN FACE OF CANADIAN OR OTHER OBJECTIONS. WHAT WE HAVE TO CONVINCE THE CANADIANS (AND OTHERS) OF IS THAT THE AGREEMENT REALLY DOES

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