TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 44

GPS 350 CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2537

OF 160435Z NOVEMBER 85

INFO PRIORITY PEKING,

CONFIDENHA

EKK 040128

RECEIVED T

DESK

1 8 NOV 1985

REGISTRY

314

201

INDEX

B

PARA. 3 OF YOUR TELNO 1636: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ACCEPTABIL

OF BN (0) PASSPORTS: SWITZERLAND.

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY BRIEFED THE SWISS CONSUL-GENERAL INFORMALLY

TODAY ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISSUE OF NEW BN (0) PASSPORTS.

THE CONSUL-GENERAL SAID HE INVISAGED NO PROBLEM BEFORE 1997 BUT

THE RETURNABILITY OF A BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDER TO HONG KONG AFTER

1997 MIGHT BE A SUBJECT OF CONCERN TO HIS GOVERNMENT. WE EXPLAINED

THAT THE HOLDER'S RETURNABILITY TO HONG KONG AFTER THE TRANSFER

OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997 WOULD BE GUARANTEED BY A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORESEMENT TO BE AGREED BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE

GOVERNMENTS IN BN(0) PASSPORTS. ON VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS, THE CONSUL-ĠENERAL AGAIN INDICATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO. PROBLEM

UP TO 1997 BUT ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT HAVE TO BE REVIEWED THEREAFTER

IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. HE THOUGHT HIS GOVERNMENT

WOULD BE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF A SUBSTANTIAL

EXODUS FROM HONG KONG WITH PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG SETTLING ILLEGALLY

IN SWITZERLAND. WITHOUT VISA ARRANGEMENTS, SUCH ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT

IN SWITZERLAND WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL.

2. THE CONSUL-GENERAL THOUGHT THAT WHEN HMG MADE FORMAL APPROACHES

TO THE SWISS GOVERNMENT, HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD PROBABLY TRY TO

FIND OUT THE REACTIONS OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE. REFERRING TO

THE STATEMENT BY THE US VICE-PRESIDENT ON THE NEW BN (0) PASSPORT HE ENQUIRED WHETHER SIMILAR POSITIVE REACTION HAD BEEN OBTAINED FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. IN REPLY. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAID THAT IN OUR INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH SELECTED CONSUL-GENERALS AND COMMISSIONERS HERE, WE HAD RECEIVED ENCOURAGING RESPONSES.

3. THE CONSUL-GENERAL UNDERTOOK TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIS GOVERNMENT AND TO REPORT BACK ANY INITIAL UNOFFICIAL RESPONSE. YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

MR WILSON

CONFIDENTIAL