CONFIDENTIAL
be not
including civil
The membership will
less than 120 and not more than
200 and open to a wide cross-section of community,
servants and foreigners of at least 7 years
residence.
BN(O) Passports
6.
An exchange of memoranda on nationality was associated
with the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. We are moving to implement UK memorandum through legislation. Under this,
British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs) by virtue of
a connection with Hong Kong will lose this status on 1 July
1997, but will be able to acquire a new form of British
nationality and retain it for the rest of their lives.
This will be known as British National (Overseas). BN(O) s
will have the s ame status as Hong Kong BDTCs, except that
the status will not be transmissible; they will have the
right of abode in Hong Kong stated in their passports and
they will be returnable to Hong Kong.
7.
BN(O) passports will be issued from 1 July 1987 and we
expect to issue over 2 million before the cut-off date in
1997. We intend to introduce the new passports at this
early date SO
that Hong Kong BDTCs /BN (O)s will be able to
obtain passports with a 10 year validity period (Hong Kong BDTC passports will only be valid to 1997) to enable third countries to get used to the new passports before 1997 and to avoid administrative difficulties involved in issuing 24
million passports in 1997.
8.
BN(O)s will continue to be BDTCs up to 1 July 1997.
They will however only be able to hold one passport, either
BN(O) or BDTC.
9. The format of BN (O) passports will be the s.ame as that
issued by consular posts
consular posts to other British nationals.
will be
They
eligible for consular protection in third
countries. We are seeking to agree the formula
the formula about the
right of abode statement in
the passports with the Chinese
to ensure that it remains valid after 1997.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.