TNAG-1566-FCO40-2131-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 73

Right of abode endorsement in the passport

At present BDTC (HK) passports show right of abode in Hong Kong. It is crucial

to the confidence of Hong Kong in the passport and its acceptability to third

countries that the BN(0) passport should do also.

Since BN (0) passports will be valid beyond 30 June 1997 when the UK loses

sovereignty over Hong Kong the endorsement had to be agreed with the Chinese

using a fairly neutral form of words which did not cause offence by suggesting

that the right of abode was conferred by us. The Joint Declaration provides

that holders of permanent identity cards of the Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region may have this fact stated in their travel documents as evidence of

the right of abode in Hong Kong. The endorsement which has been agreed

with the Chinese will read "The holder of this passport has Hong Kong

permanent identity card No (XYZ) which states that the holder has the right

of abode in Hong Kong"

Hong Kong will produce the new permanent identity cards in time for

1 July 1987.

Acceptance of the BN(0) Passport by Third Countries

The international acceptability of BN (0) passports has been one of the major

Hong Kong concerns. Within this concern lie 2 issues: the securing of

the same rights for BN(0)s as for BDTCs (HK) and having a passport which

shows right of abode in, and therefore returnability to, Hong Kong so that

the holder has no problems at immigration controls. Foreign and Commonwealth

Office will take the lead in the presentation of the new status and the

passport to third countries once the Order has been made in 1986 and before

the issue of passports in 1987. Our aim is to follow the same procedure

as that followed after the BNA 1981. We will send notes to third countries

explaining the new status and making it clear that we now expect overseas

Governments to give BN(0) passport holders the same rights of access to

their countries as BDTC passport holders.

Already, however, the United States through Vice-President Bush have announced

that the US will accept BN (0) passports, there has been a helpful response

from the Australian Government and the EC Parliament has passed a helpful

resolution encouraging member states to abolish visa requirements for BDTC

62.4