TNAG-1562-FCO40-2126-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 22

C

the Partridge, NTD

Agreed

utts

1

FROM: DATE:

184

St

Secret of Stake.

D W PARTRIDGE, NTD

4 OCTOBER 1985

Private Secretary

7/20

Copies to:

PS/Mr Renton PS/Mr Eggar PS/PUS

Mr Galsworthy, HKD

Legal Advisers, Mr Hill

ISSUE OF PASSPORTS TO BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS) IN HONG KONG

PROBLEM

1. Who should issue passports in Hong Kong to British

Nationals (Overseas) (BNOs) between 1 July 1987 and

30 June 1997?

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that between 1 July 1987 and 30 June 1997

BN(0) passports should be issued in Hong Kong under the

Secretary of State's exercise of the royal prerogative and that

the Secretary of State should authorise the Governor of Hong

Kong to act as his agent in this respect. I further recommend

that the Secretary of State's authority should be conveyed to

the Governor in the form of a despatch, which should be sent

after the passage of the nationality Order-in-Council which will

introduce BNC) status (Spring 1986) but before the coming into

operation of that Order (1 July 1987). Hong Kong Department

and Legal Advisers agree.

BACKGROUND

3.

The new status of BN (0) is to be introduced from July 1987

for British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs) who have

that status through a connection with Hong Kong and who wish to