TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 86

259)

GRS 275

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY PEKING

TELNO 1100

OF 11053OZ NOVEMBER 85

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201

2811

TOP COPY

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.

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2449

OF 080959Z NOVEMBER 85

INFO PRIORITY MANILA

HUR 040/28

REOLIVES

1 NOV 1905

DESK OTHE INDEX

REGISTAY Action Taken

PARA. 3 OF FCO TELNO 1636 : HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTEDS: ACCEPTABILITY OF BN(0) PASSPORT : PHILIPPINES.

IN INFORMAL DISCUSSION WITH SECRETARY FOR SECURITY TODAY, THE ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL OF PHILIPPINES REMARKED THAT IN VIEW OF THE SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC FLOW BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE PHILLIPINES AND THE INTENTION OF HIS GOVERNMENT TO HELP TO MAINTAIN STABILITY

AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG, THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT (NOT) REACT IN A WAY THAT MIGHT DISRUPT A SMOOTH TRANSITION. HE

INDICATED UNOFFICIALLY THAT HE SAW NO SERIOUS PROBLEM IN HIS

GOVERNMENT ACCEPTING THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORT PROVIDED THAT

RETURNABILITY WAS GUARANTEED. NEVERTHELESS, HE ADDED THAT VISA

ABOLITION ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT HAVE TO BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF

CHANGES.

2. ON THE QUESTION OF RETURNABILITY, THE CONSUL-GENERAL AND HIS

ASSISTANT WERE ASSURED THAT WITH A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN

BN(0) PASSPORTS, THERE COULD BE NO QUESTION ABOUT A BN (0) PASSPORT

HOLDER'S RETURNABILITY TO HONG KONG BEFORE OR AFTER 1997.

3. THE CONSUL-GENERAL ALSO ENQUIRED ABOUT THE LIKELY ARRANGEMENTS

IN RESPECT OF REPATRIATION AFTER 1997. HE WAS PARTICULARLY

INTERESTED IN WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE

SAR GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO ACCEPT BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS. IT WOULD

BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A CLEAR STATEMENT ON WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF

HMG WOULD BE IN RESPECT OF REPATRIATION. THE ANSWER TO THE SECOND

POINT WOULD SEEM TO BE THAT THE RIGHT OF ABODE OF THE HOLDERS OF

BN(0) PASSPORTS WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SAR GOVERNMENT NOT

TO ACCEPT THEM BACK.

CONFIDENTIAL