TNAG-1408-FCO40-1883-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 31

GRS 750

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

CONFIDENTIAL

нни очага

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 1 DEC 1985

Pa

TELNO 2782

OF 100455Z DECEMBER 85

DESK OFFICER

INFO PROPITY OTTAWA

PEKING MINER

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

Я

Lay thei dr. Puwell (360)

A

The cat is now

the bayı

We shall

1

257.

hand to curvide very

carefully how we

ach hie прось

Canadians.

OUR TELNO 2429: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ACCEPTABILITY OF PN(0) PASSPORT : CANADA.

Ou

IN A DISCUSSION YESTERDAY WITH A SECURITY BRANCH OFFICIAL ON THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE HONG KONG DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY FOR VISA PURPOSES (NOT AT PRESENT RECOGNISED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AS A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT), THE FIRST SECRETARY (IMMIGRATION) OF THE CANADIAN COMMISSION REPORTED ON THE IR STUDY OF THE NEW BN (0)

PASSPORT SO FAR

-

(A) THEIR RESEARCH INTO THE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TAKEN TO ACCOMMODATE BOCS IN 1983 CONFIRMED THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT USED THE 'MINISTER'S PERMIT SYSTEM TO GET ROUND THE BOC PROBLEM. A MINISTER'S PERMIT IS AN INSTRUMENT ISSUED AT THE MINISTER'S DISCRETION TO ENABLE PERSONS INADMISSIBLE UNDER THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS ON MEDICAL, CRIMINAL GROUNDS OR BECAUSE THEY HOLD TRAVEL DOCUMENTS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, TO GAIN ENTRY INTO CANADA. 'MINISTERS PERMITS' MAY BE ISSUED BY THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF AN OVERSEAS POST. THESE HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO BOCS ONLY IN CASES WHERE THE CANADIAN AUTHORITIES WERE SATISFIED THAT THERE WAS GOOD REASON FOR THE PERSON TO VISIT CANADA, SUCH AS BECAUSE OF FAMILY CONNECTIONS OR BUSINESS INTERESTS, AND THAT THAT PERSON HAD SOMEWHERE TO GO AFTER CANADA. THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF THESE PERMITS DEPENDS ON INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THUS, DESPITE THE USE OF THE 'MINISTER'S PERMIT' SYSTEM, NOT ALL BOCS WHO WISH TO VISIT CANADA HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO:

(B) AN AGREEMENT HAS RECENTLY BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE CANADIAN AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS (THROUGH AN EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA) WHEREBY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AGPEED TO ACCEPT BOCS PROVIDED THAT THEY HAVE RE-ENTRY FACILITY TO SOMEWHERE, NOT NECESSARILY TO THE UK. ON THE OTHER HAND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AGREED TO TAKE BACK BOCS IN POSSESSION OF A VISITOR VISA ISSUED BY CANADA IF THEY PROVED TO BE INADMISSIBLE TO OTHER COUNTRIES. THIS AGREEMENT MARKED THE CANADIAN WHICH GOVERNMENT'S RECOGNITION OF BOC PASSPORTS FOR THE FIRST TIME, ENABLED THE ISSUE OF NORMAL VISIT VISAS TO THEM:

(C) THEIR HEADQUARTERS' HAVE NOT MADE ANY COMMENTS BUT HAVE ASKED HOW OTHER CONSULAR. OFFICIALS HERE ARE REACTING TO THE NEW BN (0) PASSPORT.

CONFIDENTIAL

12.

M. 10/12

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