TNAG-1561-FCO40-2125-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 28

DSR 11C

Hong Kong Government.

7. It will be for the Government of Hong Kong to continue

setting the fee for passports they issue before 1 July 1997

to British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs). These Such

passports will continue to be issued in the Governor's

exercise of the Royal prerogative.

They will have a maximum however, validity to 30 June 1997. As explained above, the level of

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the fee Hong Kong will be permitted to charge for the issue

of passports to BN(0)s will be outside their control since

it will be set by a United Kingdom Order in Council.

(as at present) be lower than the Hong Kong passport fee,

although it could possibly be higher at some time in the

future.

8.

by

At present consular fees received from our overseas posts

are appropriated-in-aid, but from 1 April 1986 consular fees

are to be surrendered to the Consolidated Fund as extra

receipts.

This means that, without Treasury agreement to

some exceptional arrangement, the Hong Kong Government would

be unable to retain any surplus revenue from the issue of

passports to BN(0)s between 1987 and 1997 on the Secretary

of State's behalf. Approximately 130,000 passports are

issued annually in Hong Kong to British Dependent Territories

citizens. Between 1987 and 1997 an even larger number of

applications for BN(0) passport is expected, since the

acquisition of BN (0) status is dependent on

the holding of

for inclusion in a passport showing that status. Therefore

the loss to the Hong Kong Government of revenue from passports

would be considerable if proceeds were to be remitted to the

Given the present sensitivity of the people of

Hong Kong in matters relating to nationality and passports, « situation where the fact that 'profit' from the issue of passports to people

UK Treasury.

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