TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 46

312

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5664 - 1

OCMIAN 5664

CONFIDENTIAL

PP SEOUL

PP BANGK

FM FCOLN TO SEOUL

141725Z NOV

GRS 307

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HKK 040/28

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 & NOV 1985

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY SEOUL

TELNO 193

OF 141725Z NOVEMBER 85

AND TO PRIORITY BANGKOK

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF DEPT,

WAS SENT TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 1636 OF 23 OCT

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, OTTAWA

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

PASSPORTS

1.

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.

1

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