TNAG-1407-FCO40-1882-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 94

GRS 250

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2457

11082OZ NOVEMBER 85

CONFIDENTIAL TOP COPY

274)

INFO PRIORITY TOKYO, PEKING.

201

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

ACCEPTABILITY OF BN(0) PASSPORTS: JAPAN.

IN INFORMAL DISCUSSION WITH THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY TODAY, THE JAPANESE DEPUTY CONSUL-GENERAL SAID THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MAINTAINING THE EXISTING VITAL LINKS BETWEEN JAPAN

AND HONG KONG AND WOULD LOOK AT THE PROPOSED NEW PASSPORT ARRANGEMENTS IN THAT LIGHT. BUT GIVEN THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE SUBJECT AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO PRECEDENT FOR THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS INVOLVING A PASSPORT ISSUED BY ONE COUNTRY WITH THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WOULD

NEED TO STUDY THE PROPOSALS CAREFULLY.

2. THE DEPARTY CONSUL-GENERAL ENQUIRED WHETHER AN SAR RESIDENT COULD

HOLD BOTH AN SAR TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND A BN (0) PASSPORT SIMULTANEOUSLY AFTER 1997 AND WHAT FORM OF BRITISH CONSULAR. PROTECTION WOULD BE GIVEN TO BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS AFTER 1997.

IN ANSWERING THE FIRST QUESTION, WE MADE REFERENCE TO THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE CHINESE MEMORANDUM WHICH PROVIDED THAT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WOULD APPLY TO SAR RESIDENTS WHO WERE FORMER BDTCS INSOFAR AS THE HOLDING OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WAS CONCERNED. IN REPLY TO THE SECOND QUESTION, WE EXPLAINED THAT BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS WOULD ENJOY FULL BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION.

3. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY STRESSED THE INFORMAL NATURE OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AND ASKED THE DEPUTY CONSUL-GENERAL UNOFFICIALLY WHETHER HE FORESAW ANY PROBLEM IN ACCEPTING THE NEW BN (0) PASSPORT. THE DEPUTY CONSUL-GENERAL THOUGHT IT UNLIKELY THAT HIS GOVERNMENT COULD OFFER ANY COMMENT IN PUBLIC BEFORE HMG FORMALLY APPROACHED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT. BUT HE UNDERTOOK TO COMMUNICATE WITH TOKYO AND TO REPORT BACK ANY DIFFICULTY THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MIGHT VISUALISE IN ACCETPING BN (0) PASSPORTS.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

MR WILSON

CONFIDENTIAL

BEPEATED AS REQUESTEA

нни

RECEIVER

040108

STRY

1 1 NOV 1985

R