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(C)
(D)
BDTCS AND THIS WOULD EXTEND, IN THE CASE OF REPATRIATION REQUESTS, TO CONTACTING FRIENDS OR RELATIVES FOR FUNDS. BUT THE BASIC RULES FOR ACTUAL REPATRIATION AT HMG'S
EXPENSE WOULD STILL APPLY. AFTER 1 JULY 1997, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A GUARANTEE OF REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE HKSAR GOVERNMENT BEFORE WE COULD AGREE TO REPATRIATE A BN(0) TO HONG KONG, AS WE NEED A GUARANTEE OF REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE HKG NOW IN THE CASE OF BDTCS REPATRIATED
TO HONG KONG AND AS WE
SHALL NEED FROM 1 JULY 1987 TO 30 JUNE 1997 IN THE CASE OF BN(0)S. CONCERNING OVERSTAYERS, WE WOULD NATURALLY DO ALL WE COULD TO ASSIST WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF OUR RULES CONCERNING REPATRIATION BUT, AS NOW, AN IMMIGRATION PROBLEM IS ULTIMATELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOST
COUNTRY. WHEN WE MAKE OUR FORMAL APPROACHES TO GOVERNMENTS WE SHALL OF COURSE SEEK TO REASSURE THEM THAT WE WILL DO OUR UTMOST TO MAINTAIN STABILITY AND ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION SO THAT CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG BEFORE AND AFTER 1997 WILL BE SUCH THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH OVERSTAYERS FROM HONG KONG. AS A GENERAL RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS, YOU CAN OF COURSE SAY THAT THE CONSULAR PROTECTION WE WILL OFFER TO BN (0)S BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER 1997 WILL BE THE SAME AS THAT OFFERED TO ANY
OTHER BRITISH NATIONAL.
RETURNABILITY.
AS YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, ALL BN (0)S WILL HAVE RETURNABILITY TO HONG KONG BECAUSE UNDER SECTION XIV OF ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, WHICH BOTH SIDES RECOGNISE AS LEGALLY BINDING UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, THEY WILL HAVE RIGHT OF ABODE THERE. THERE CAN THUS BE NO QUESTION OF THE HKSAR GOVERNMENT REFUSING TO READMIT BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS. SEE ALSO OUR TELNO 1783 CONCERNING THE CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF RIGHT OF ABODE.
RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN BOC PASSPORTS.
HMG AS THE ISSUING AUTHORITY MAKES NO ENDORSEMENT IN BOC PASSPORTS CONCERNING A HOLDER'S RESIDENCY/IMMIGRATION
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CONFIDENTIAL
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