TNAG-1568-FCO40-2134-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 130

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Replies to:-

BRITISH EMBASSY

35 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré 75383 Paris Cédex 08

MEH/cr

K341/1

Chief Immigration Officer Travel Documents Section Immigration Department 61 Mody Road

Kowloon

Hong Kong

CONSULAR SECTION BRITISH EMBASSY

2 Cité du Retiro

75008 Paris

Tél : 42 66 91 42

bc. N.T.D., FCO

7 Sruth

Hong Kong Dept, FC

960

HKK 340/1

20 August 1986

RECEIVE

ATLY ↑ SEP 1986

ISTRY

Jon Taken

Mek

ра

Nat.

726/3

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1

HONG KONG CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY

We have recently received from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs a Note Verbale about the cancellation of expired Certi- ficates of Identity, and the risk this presents of depriving the persons concerned of the means of leaving France. I enclose a copy of the Note, together with an unofficial translation of it, and a copy of the Note we have sent in reply.

2. It is our understanding that a Hong Kong Certificate of Identity is in the nature of a stateless travel document which guarantees the holder readmission to Hong Kong in the shorter term but to which he forfeits the right if he takes up longer term or permanent residence in another country. We have sought in our reply to put the overall position in perspective. We have tried to make it clear that only those holders of Certificates of Identity who, according to our interpretation of the provisions relating to the issue of long-term Cartes de Séjour, qualify for a French travel document have their expired Certificates of Identity cancelled. You will wish to know of the interest which the French government have shown in the procedures we follow on instructions from you. I shall, of course, let you know how the Foreign Ministry reacts to our request for clarification on the question of who is, or is not, entitled to a Titre de Voyage once they hold a 10-year Carte de Séjour.

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