GPS 400
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 03103OZ FCO
TELNO 18
OF 03094OZ JANUARY 836
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO DESKBY 031030Z PEKING
cades
(375
HRM-040/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 7 JAN 1986
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
YOUR TELNO 2047: NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL: LEGCO
DEBATE: ENDORSEMENT IN BN (0) PASSPORTS.
1 AM MUCH CONCERNED THAT THE HO ARE NOT (NOT PREPARED
TENT
TO ACCEPT THE ENDORSEMENT PUT FORWARD AS A COMPROMISE TOWARDS
MEETING ONE OF THE PROPOSALS UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS PUT FORWARD IN
THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE.
MEMBERS FEEL STRONGLY THAT EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO GIVE CPEDENCE
TO THE NEW PASSPORT. IF NO SPECIAL EFFORT IS MADE TO THIS END THEY
WILL SEE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AS HAVING DONE LITTLE TO HELP,
AND INDEED LESS THAT THE CHINESE WHO HAVE MADE A CONCESSION IN
RESPECT OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT. WHILE WHAT WE ARE
PROPOSING MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAVEY ANY APPRECIABLE PRACTICAL
ADVANTAGE AS FAR AS PASSING THROUGH THE CONTROL POINTS OF THIRD
COUNTRIES IS CONCERNED, IT WOULD HAVE POWERFUL PSYCHOLOGICAL
ADVANTAGE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE PASSPORTS IN THAT IT WILL AT LEAST
STATE THE ADVANTAGES OF THE PASSPORT FOR ENTRY INTO THE UK.
2. THE PRACTICAL ARUGUMENTS THE HO HAVE PUT FORWARD FOR NOT
ACCEPTING THE ENDORSEMENT WILL NOT BE UNDERSTOOD HERE. THE FIRST
TWO INVOLVE RISKS WHICH HONG KONG TRAVELLERS MAY PREFER TO ACCEPT
IN ORDER TO HAVE IT CLEARLY STATED IN THEIR BN (0) PASSPORTS THAT
THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE ENTRY CEPTIFICATES OR VISAS TO ENTER
THE UK. FOR OUR PART, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE THAT ENTRY
CERTIFICATES ARE AN OPTION FOR THOSE WHO FEAR THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE
DIFFICULTY IN PERSUADING UK IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS THAT THEY MEET
THE IMMIGRATION RULES TO BE ALLOWED IN AS VISITOPS. THIS IS A
POINT ON WHICH EXCO'S ADVICE I SHOULD NEED AND WILL SEEK IN ON
7 JANUARY SO THAT IT IS AVAILABLE BEFORE MINISTERS COME TO A
CONCLUSION ON WHAT POSITION THEY SHOULD TAKE ON THESE ISSUES IN
THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 16 JANUARY. 3 LECCO MEMBEPS
HAVE WRITTEN TO ALL MPS TODAY (SEE MY TELMO) AND ARE CONSIDERING
WHETHER TO SEND A TEAN TO LONDON TO LOBBY FOP THE APRANGEMENTS
ADVOCATED IN THE LEGCO ADJOURNMENT DEBATE. (SEE PAPA 4 LAST TWO
SENTENCES OF THE LETTER TO MPS) THEY WILL NEED TO BE INFORMED
ON WHAT THE REACTIONS TO THEIP PROPOSALS APE LIKELY TO BE. CONFIDENTIAL
13.
3
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.