TNAG-1569-FCO40-2135-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 33

Head of Chancery

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HONG KONG: BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS)

1. I left copies of this Aide Memoire today with

Mr Hans Corell in the Foreign Ministry. He was accompanied by Mr Lars Magnusson.

2.

Mr Corell said that careful consideration would be given to our request. But it would not be possible to give an early answer since the matter would have to be raised at the next Coordinating Group of Nordic Immigration Authorities to be held in Stockholm in January. I confirmed that we would be similarly approaching other Nordic countries. Should there be any reaction from those governments before January, it would be useful to transmit this to the Swedish Foreign Ministry.

3.

Mr Corell asked whether our proposal had the full support of the Chinese government. I said that it did, under our agreement with China of 1984. Mr Corell nevertheless seemed to think that it would be useful to hear this directly from the Chinese government themselves. It would be worth taking

X

up this point with London.

y}

4. Mr Corell also asked what arrangements would be made after 1997 for any BN (0) passports which might be lost. While such passports could not be issued afresh after 1997, there would clearly have to be some mechanism for holding the records and re-issuing documents that might be lost. Would this be done in Britain or in Hong Kong? If the latter, who would be responsible for doing it? This seems rather a nit-picking question but again it would be worth taking up with London.

5.

Mr Corell's general attitude was helpful and his questions were clearly designed simply to obtain elucidation.

RP

15 October 1986

Richard Parsons

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