TNAG-1557-FCO40-2121-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 22

27.

Passports issued to BD TC s in Hong Kong are currently issued by

the Governor

in the name of Her Majesty. It would be inappropriate

for

passports issued to BN (0) s which will remain valid beyond 30

June 1997 to be issued by the Government. BN (0) passports will

therefore be issued from the start by "Her Britannic Majesty's

Secretary of State", as they

a re at present in the UK and at

consular posts overseas. This requires a change in format.

28.

Initially the passport is likely to be in the same format as

is issued to all

British nationals. But hon Members will be aware

that there is to be a change in

change in the format of British passports as a

consequence of the decision to give a common format to the national

passports of European Community member states and our decision that

the UK passport should be machine-readable.

My Rt hon and learned

Friend, the present Secretary

of State for Trade and Industry gave

details in a Parliamentary answer on 24 July 1984. In due course,

therefore, the BN (0) passport will follow the proposed common

European Community format. It will be burgundy red, soft-covered

and smaller than the present blue document. On the cover will be

the wording "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norther Ireland",

the Royal Coat of Arms and "Passport"; the wording on the inside

cover will refer to "Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State".

29. One issue which has been of particular concern is the right of

abode endorsement to be placed in BN (0) passports. This needs to be

agreed with the Chinese Government because the UK Government cannot

give such a right in the Special Administrative Region after 1 July

1997.

discussed this matter with the Chinese

Liaison Group. The y have agreed in

the

We have therefore

Government

in the Joint

principle that the wording of the endorsement should be as follows:

"The holder of this passport has Hong Kong permanent

identity card No.

(the number will be

entered) which states that the holder has

the right

of abode in Hong Kong.

TU

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