TNAG-1559-FCO40-2123-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 92

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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Increasing

The answer to the first question is that it is contrary to

international passport convention to issue anyone with more than one

current passport save in circumstances where travel to incompatable

countries is involved or where we are satisfied that much travelled

businessmen would be seriously inconvenienced since their passport

often is lodged with foreign embassies for visa purposes.

the number of passports available to the individual brings with it

increased risk of loss, theft and abuse so undermining effective

immigration control. We are concerned also that British nationals

should not get into trouble at foreign ports: we are aware that many

countries object to possession of more than one document and in one

country at least it is a criminal offence.

In the Hong Kong context we judged that the temptation to sell or lend

the second passport would be too great and to have allowed it would

have caused concern to other countries besides the UK. The Hong Kong

government accepted our reasoning making the point that third

passport countries' acceptance of the present BDTC Hong Kong jas well as the

BN(0) passport might be put at risk.

As for the suggestion that holding both passports might give the

traveller the confidence to test the international acceptance of the

BN (0) passport, putting to one side the difficulties which the

traveller might encounter simply for holding two passports, we believe

that to permit such a practice would in fact suggest to third

/countries

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