people living in China to apply for Chinese nationality, and that the cases
would be dealt with by the appropriate authorities.
19. The Government believe that the provisions in Article 6 and the Agreement,
taken together, constitute the most satisfactory, reliable and fair way of providin
the people of Hong Kong with what they want; that is to say British nationality
and the right to continue to live and work in Hong Kong. To go further would
not help to meet the needs of the community in Hong Kong and would risk giving
unfairly different treatment to one group of our citizens in Hong Kong. But
the Government have also made it plain that if the present situation were to
change and any British national were forced to leave Hong Kong and had nowhere
else to go, we would expect the Government of the day to consider sympathetically
whether to admit them on a case by case basis in the light of the particular
circumstances. We believe this is the best and fairest balance which can be
drawn in the current circumstances.
20.
My Lords I would like to say a few words now, if I may, about the proposed
arrangements for issuing BN(0) passports once the Order comes into effect.
Although not strictly part of the draft Order, I know that a number of your
Lordships are concerned with this matter which is closely linked to the Order
and of central importance to its successful implementation.
21.
The Government's aim is to issue BN (0) passports from 1 July 1987. This
will enable Hong Kong BDTCs to choose between a BDTC passport with a restricted
validity until 1 July 1997, or a BN(0) passport valid for a full ten years. It
will not be possible to carry both a BN (0) and a BDTC passport at the same time.
22. The great majority of BN (0) passports will be issued in Hong Kong, who will
be responsible for processing the applications and for the maintenance of the
register of BN (0)s. But it will not be necessary for applications to be made
in Hong Kong. It will be possible for Hong Kong BDTCs to apply for a BN (0)
passport wherever they may be, whether from UK Passport Offices or from Consular
posts overseas. There will be a fee for the passport, which will be set under
the Consular Fees Act 1980. Except for exchange variations, the fee will be
the same throughout the world.
23. Since BN (0) passports will remain in force after 1997, we intend that they
should be issued in the name of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary rather than the Governor of Hong Kong. The format will therefore make it clear that
the passport is issued under the authority of Her Majesty's Government.
6 -
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