TNAG-1408-FCO40-1883-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 71

"(

Mr Marc

Reference.....

GNN 340/393/1

346

CODE 18-77

AWO Ltd. 7/84

1. I agree that we should try to obtain agreement to Hong Kong being allowed to retain the whole passport fee. There are some additional reasons for this.

2.

The passport services which Hong Kong will perform on behalf of the Secretary of State will be entirely for persons who are connected with Hong Kong, since such a connection is a prerequisite to the acquisition of BN(O) status. Passport applications from British citizens and all other categories of British nationals which are submitted in Hong Kong are sent to London for processing under the 'bag scheme', accompanied by the fees.

accompanied by the fees. This arrangement will continue until July 1997, when a British Consular Office will take over all issuing of British passports in Hong Kong. Passports, issued to BN (O)s in the UK and in third countries both before and after 1997 will be treated in the same way as all other applications and HMG will retain the issue fee.

3.

If it were not for the unique circumstances connected with Hong Kong's future and the fact that passports issued in the name of the Governor would be unacceptable to the Chinese after Hong Kong reverts to their sovereignty, HMG would not be involved

The at all in the issue of passports to BN (O)s in Hong Kong. existing arrangements whereby passports are issued in Hong Kong under the Governor's exercise of the royal prerogative would continue as indeed it will for BDTCs who do not opt for BN(0) status.

4. The UK passport fee charged under the Consular Fees Order is set at a level intended to cover the cost of the passport issuing operation in the UK and at our overseas posts as well as the cost of maintaining non-fee-bearing consular services overseas. always understood that the theory behind the latter is that it is passport-holders overseas, whether resident or visiting, who call on these consular services. So far as future BN (O)s are concerned, the holding of a passport is an essential to the acquisition of the new status. It is expected therefore that many of the passport applications will be from BDTCs in Hong Kong who have no intention of travelling abroad but who wish to preserve a right to a form of British nationality. The majority are therefore unlikely to call upon UK consular assistance abroad. In view of this it does not seem logical to include the administrative costs of issuing their passports and the revenue from fees paid by them in the calculations for setting the level of the UK passport fee. In securing their entitlement to a form of British nationality BN(O)s in Hong Kong Or the could well finish up subsidising UK passport applicants. reverse might happen if administrative costs in Hong Kong should rise more steeply than in the UK and at our overseas posts between now and 1997.

Han 040/28

RECL

29 HOV 1935

DESK OF

INDEX

75

7

/5.