TNAG-1408-FCO40-1883-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 13

OCMIAN 7607

CONFIDENTIAL

PP PEKIN

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

211500Z NOV

GRS 743

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1848

OF 211500Z NOVEMBER 85

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

7607 -.1

MHH 040281

RECEIVEDIS

DESISTRY

2 2 NOV 1985

DESK OF ICER

INDEX

HEGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

YOUR TELNOS 2417, 2426-9, 2449-51, 2457: NATIONALITY: BRIEFING CONSULATES GENERAL

HONG KONG AGREEMENT:

1..

CLOSELY.

2.

WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR REPORTS OF THESE BRIEFINGS

WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON MATTERS RAISED BY

VARIOUS CONSULS GENERAL:

(A)

(B)

WILL HONG KONG PEOPLE BE ABLE TO HOLD A HKSAR PASSPORT IN

ADDITION TO A BN(0) PASSPORT?

WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE LINE PROPOSED IN YOUR TELNO 2596. WE SHOULD PRESS FOR CHINESE CONFIRMATION AT THE

JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

REPATRIATION OF BN(0)S.

THE ONE IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER ABOUT REPATRIATION, AS IT APPLIES TO ANY CATEGORY OF BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDER IS THAT IT IS NOT A STATUTORY RIGHT AVAILABLE ON DEMAND. A PERSON WHO ASKS TO BE REPATRIATED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE MUST SATISFY A CONSULAR OFFICER THAT (I) HE IS DESTITUTE AND (II) HE HAS NO RECOURSE WHATEVER TO FUNDS OF HIS OWN OR FROM FAMILY OR FRIENDS. OF COURSE WE SHALL OFFER CONSULAR PROTECTION FOR BN(0)S IN THIRD COUNTRIES FROM, 1 JULY 1987 IN THE SAME WAY AS WE NOW DO FOR HONG KONG

1

CONFIDENTIAL

333