TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 91

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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.

нии осорь

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

RECEY

1 1 NOV 1985

TO PRIORITY FCO

246TELNO 2426

INDEX

OF 06075OZ NOVEMBER 85

FRY

101 Taken

INFO PRIORITY. SINGAPORE

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

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY BRIEFED THE COMMISSIONER SINGAPORE UNOFFICIALLY TODAY ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISSUE OF NEW BN (0) PASSPORTS. HE EMPHASISED THE INFORMAL NATURE OF THE DISCUSSIONS PENDING HMG'S FORMAL APPROACH TO THIRD COUNTRIES AFTER THE ORDER IN COUNCIL HAD BEEN ENACTED (PROBABLY IN MID 1986). HE SAID HE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HAVE BEFORE THE LEGCO DEBATE IN EARLY DECEMBER ANY UNOFFICIAL REACTIONS IN RESPECT OF POSSIBLE DIFFICULTY OFFICIALS IN SINGAPORE MIGHT FORESEE OVER THE NEW BN(0) PASSPORTS.

2. THE COMMISSIONER SINGAPORE UNDERTOOK TO REPORT BACK ANY REACTIONS FROM SINGAPORE. THE ONLY POSSIBLE PROBLEM HE COULD THINK OF AT THE MOMENT WAS IN RESPECT OF REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS. HE ASKED WHAT HELP COULD BE EXPECTED FROM BRITISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES. HE THOUGHT THAT IF BN(0)S OVERSTAYED IN LARGE NUMBERS AFTER 1997, THIS COULD POSE A PROBLEM TO COUNTRIES WHOSE RESOURCES WERE NOT GEARED TO HANDLING LARGE NUMBERS OF OVERSTAYERS.

3. IN REPLY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO ASSURE THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE SAME REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS APPLYING TO BDTCS WOULD APPLY TO BN (0)S UP TO 1997 AND THAT AFTER 1997 BN(0)S OVERSTAYING IN SINGAPORE WOULD BE DEALT WITH BY BRITISH CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER BRITISH NATIONALS.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

WAS NOT

LIMITED

THIS TELEGRAM

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

MR WILSON

ADVANCED

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL