TNAG-1557-FCO40-2121-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 105

CONFIDENTIAL

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BEFORE PASSPORTS SHOWING THE NEW STATUS ARE INTRODUCED IN JULY 1987. GIVEN THE CLEAR INDICATION OF RIGHT OF ABODE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PASSPORT, GUARANTEEING THE RETURNABILITY OF BN (0)S TO HONG KONG, I CAN SEE NO REASON FOR THIRD COUNTRIES TO INTRODUCE DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS ON ENTRY OF BN(0) PASSPORT HOLDERS FROM THOSE WHICH APPLY TO BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS.

4.

I THINK THAT IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL ACCEPT THE PASSPORTS FOR ENTRY TO THAT COUNTRY, AS HAVE THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. I AM CONFIDENT THAT OTHER GOVERNMENTS WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD ONCE WE HAVE EXPLAINED THE CHANGES. 5. AS I HAVE ALREADY EXPLAINED WE HAVE ACHIEVED A VERY SATISFACTORY RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT FOR THE BN(0) PASSPORT. THERE SHOULD THEREFORE BE NO NEED FOR BN (0)S TO CARRY THEIR ID

WE WILL BE MAKING THIS CLEAR TO CARDS AS WELL AS THEIR PASSPORT.

THIRD COUNTRIES.

6. (OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) HMG SHOULD PROVIDE FULL AND REGULAR REPORTS ON HOW THEY ARE GOING ABOUT PERSUADING THIRD COUNTRIES TO ACCEPT PASSPORTS SHOWING THE NEW NATIONAL STATUS AND THE PROGRESS MADE. (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS)

A NUMBER OF HON MEMBERS HAVE ASKED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE PROGRESS REPORTS ON OUR APPROACHES TO THIRD COUNTRIES ABOUT PASSPORTS SHOWING THE NEW NATIONAL STATUS.

7. WHILE I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR US TO REVEAL THE APPROACH WE WILL BE ADOPTING WITH PARTICULAR COUNTRIES IN ADVANCE, I QUITE ACCEPT THE IMPORTANCE THE HOUSE AND HONG KONG OPINION ATTACH TO BEING KEPT INFORMED OF OUR PROGRESS IN THIS CAMPAIGN OF EXPLANATION. THE GOVERNMENT WILL THEREFORE PROVIDE REPORTS FROM TIME TO TIME ON THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROACHED AND THEIR RESPONSES.

ENDS.

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/NTD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

DEP HD/PUSD

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING MR WILSON

. COPIES TO:

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD

MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE

MR EMERY, B4 DIV, HOME OFFICE, CROYDON

MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE

ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.

MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE

MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL

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