TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 220

ACCESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS THAT ENJOYED AT PRESENT BY HOLDERS OF BDTC PASSPORTS. THE UK GOVERNMENT WILL COMMENCE APPROACHING THIRD COUNTRIES TO EXPLAIN THE NEW BN (0) STATUS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT ENTRY AGREEMENTS (INCLUDING VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS) WHICH APPLY TO HONG KONG BDTCS WILL APPLY TO BN (0)S AFTER THE ORDER IN COUNCIL

HAS BEEN MADE BY APRIL/MAY NEXT YEAR.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF BN (0) PASSPORTS BEING ACCEPTED BY THIRD

COUNTRIES?

38. A LOT OF COUNTIRES HAVE SHOWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAVE IN JULY THIS YEAR PASSED RESOLUTIONS TO ENCOURAGE MEMBER STATES TO ABOLISH VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS VISITING THEIR COUNTRIES. THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BE CONFIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE

OF BN(0) PASSPORTS.

WILL BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS HAVE TO CARRY WITH THEM THEIR IDENTITY CARDS WHEN THEY TRAVEL ABROAD?

39. AS BN (0) PASSPORTS WILL BE ENDORSED TO SHOW THAT THE HOLDER POSSESSES A HONG KONG PERMANENT IDENTITY CARD AS EVIDENCE

OF HIS RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS TO CARRY THEIR IDENTITY CARDS WITH THEM TO SATISFY IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES OF THIRD COUNTRIES OF THEIR RETURNABILITY TO HONG KONG. BUT AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM AT IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS, THE CARRYING OF HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS WILL FACILITATE THE HOLDER'S MOVEMENT IN AND

OUT OF HONG KONG.

WHEN WILL THE GOVERNMENT START ISSUING THE NEW PERMANENT .

IDENTITY CARDS?

40. THE GOVERNMENT INTEND TO ISSUE NEW TYPES OF IDENTITY CARDS WHEN BN (0) PASSPORTS ARE ISSUED, 1.E. WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 1987. THOSE WHO HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG WILL BE ISSUED WITH PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS STATING RIGHT OF ABODE WHILE OTHERS WHO DO NOT HAVE RIGHT OF ABODE WILL BE ISSUED WITH ORDINARY IDENTITY CARDS NOT STATING THE RIGHT OF ABODE.

WHAT WILL BE THE VALIDITY PERIOD AND FORMAT OF THE NEW PERMANENT

IDENTITY CARDS?

41. THESE ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE

IN DUE COURSE.

WILL BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS HAVE PERMANENT HK IDENTITY CARDS?

42. ALL PERSONS HAVING THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG WILL HAVE PERMANENT HK IDENTITY CARDS.

WILL CHILDREN UNDER 11 BE ABLE TO GET PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS?

CONFIDENTIAL

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