TNAG-1560-FCO40-2124-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 150

CONFIDENTIAL

I would certainly like David Waddington to

be very positive about the likely international

acceptability of BN(O) passports during the next Parliamentary debate on the Order. We clearly

cannot make formal approaches to third countries

until Parliament has passed the necessary legis-

lation, but we are committed to making every effort

thereafter to ensure that BN (O)s have the same rights

of access as are currently enjoyed by Hong Kong BDTCs.

I think that this is now generally understood in

Hong Kong but we will provide further briefing for

David Waddington emphasising this before the next

debate.

I look forward to hearing your further

conclusions on all these points.

I am copying this minute to the Prime Minister,

to members of OD(K), John Wakeham, Bertie Denham, and

to Sir Robert Armstrong.

GEOFFREY HOWE

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

10 February 1986

CONFIDENTIAL

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