TNAG-1568-FCO40-2134-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 101

CONFIDENTIAL

welcomed the agreement in principle on the new BN (0)

passport reached in the recent meeting of the Joint

Liaison Group. Whilst making clear that the new BN (0)

passport still had to be formally examined by the

Australian authorities, the Commission said

that the

passport appeared to

viewpoint and not to present any problems.

be acceptable from an Australian

the

Hong Kong

usual visa

people should be able to continue visiting Australia as

they presently do, subject to

requirements." (Extract from press statement

the

issued by

Australian Commission in Hong Kong on 6 December

1985). Finally, on 27 April 1986 in an article written

for a South China Morning Post supplement on "Japan

Review 1986", the Japanese Consul-General in Hong Kong

said that "the Japanese Government, for its part, is

fully prepared to extend all possible cooperation in the

efforts to

gain wide acceptability of (Hong

Kong's) new passports by the world community."]

L

8.

The acceptability of BN (0) passports worldwide,

like other aspects of the implementation of the Joint

Declaration on Hong Kong, is a subject in which

Any public

Parliament takes a close interest. HMG have undertaken

to report to Parliament on the outcome of our approaches

to other countries on this matter.

expressions of support by foreign governments would be

most welcome in this context. Please do anything you can

I

tactfully to solicit public expressions of support.

should be grateful if you would report all reactions,

whether public or given to you through

official

channels.

CONFIDENTIAL