TNAG-1568-FCO40-2134-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 83

CONFIDENTIAL

widespread international

acceptance of the new passport.

The Hong Kong Government advise that it would be wise, in Hong Kong terms, not to wait too long after the making of

the Order before taking action internationally. At the

same time there is a risk, which Hong Kong recognise, that

if action is taken too long before 1 July 1987 immigration

authorities in third countries will forget about the new

passport before it appears.

In view of these

considerations it has been agreed with Hong Kong that the

right time to initiate the campaign would be September

1986, and that we should keep in mind the possibility of a

brief reminding exercise in May or June 1987.

9.

There will be great interest in both Hong Kong and

Parliament in the outcome of the exercise. Our aim must be

to announce that as many countries as possible have indicated they will recognise the new passport. It would probably be wise to defer any detailed public statement

about the campaign until we reach such a stage. But it

would be useful to announce in Hong Kong that an exercise

was under way.

We propose to consult the Hong Kong

Government on a suitable press release for use there.

10. We have informed the Chinese in general terms of our

intention to mount a campaign to secure international

acceptance of the new passport. We propose, as a courtesy,

to give them a copy

of the Note to be sent to Foreign and

Commonwealth Missions in London.

11. NTD,

MVD and Legal Advisers concur. The Home Office

agree at official

official level and will

will copy

to their Ministers

for information.

Colten

9 September 1986

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

CONFIDENTIAL