TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 85

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PARA 3 OF FCO TELNO 1636: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED : ACCEPTABILITY OF BN(0) PASSPORTS.

MY TELNO 2426-9, 2449-51 TO FCO WHICH CONTAIN RECORDS OF INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AND SELECTED CONSUL-GENERALS/COMMISSIONERS ARE REPEATED TO YOU FOR INFORMATION.

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FM HONG KONG

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INFO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR

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040128

1 1 NOV 1935

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PARA. 3 OF FCO TELNO 1636: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED : ACCEPTABILITY OF BN(0) PASSPORTS: MALAYSIA.

IN INFORMAL DISCUSSION WITH THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY TODAY, THE MALAYSIAN COMMISSIONER STRESSED THE POINT THAT INSTABILITY IN HONG KONG WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION. HE ADDED THAT THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AND WOULD DEFINITELY ADOPT A HELPFUL ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NEW PASSPORT ARRANGEMENTS. HE INDICATED UNOFFICIALLY THAT HE COULD SEE NO PROBLEMS OVER HIS GOVERNMENT ACCEPTING THE BN (0) PASSPORT ALTHOUGH VISA ABOLITION ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT HAVE TO BE SEPARATELY LOOKED AT IN KUALA LUMPUR. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY EMPHASISED THAT THE INTENTION OF HMG WAS TO SEEK TO ENSURE THAT ENTRY AGREEMENTS INCLUDING VISA ABOLITION ARRANGEMENTS. WHICH APPLIED TO HONG KONG BDTCS WOULD ALSO APPLY TO BN(0)S.

THE

3. ON REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS, THE COMMISSIONER WAS ASSURED THAT, WITH THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN BN (0) PASSPORTS, HOLDERS' RETURNABILITY TO HONG KONG WOULD BE GUARANTEED. THE COMMISSIONER THEN RAISED THE QUESTION OF BOC PASSPORT HOLDERS AND ASKED WHETHER SUCH PASSPORTS WOULD CONTAIN A SIMILAR RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT AS EVIDENCE OF THE HOLDER'S RETURNABILITY TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEING CONSIDERED.

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HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

MR WILSON

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

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