TNAG-1569-FCO40-2135-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 90

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NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR BN (0) PASSPORTS JUST BEFORE 1997. DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION EXPLAINED THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES OF NATURALISATION AND SAID THAT A SUDDEN INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS

WAS UNLIKELY.

6. ON VISA ABOLITION WENSLEY SAID THAT THE AUSTRALAIN GOVERNMENT WOULD PREFER TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAID HE APPRECIATED THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT WISH TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO THE PRESENT VIRTUALLY UNIVERSAL VISA REQUIREMENTS IN FAVOUR OF HONG KONG. BUT SAID THAT HONG KONG WOULD MUCH APPRECIATE BEING GIVEN FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION IF AUSTRALIA INTRODUCED ANY RELAXATION IN VISA REQUIREMENTS.

7. WENSLEY ASKED WHETHER A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE BN (0) PASSPORT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

WE SAID IT WOULD.

YOUDE

YYYY

HMLNAN 3552

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

LEGAL ADVISERS

HD/NTD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

DEP HD/PUSD

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE MR WILSON

MR BARRINGTON

MR PLANT,

MR D MCDOUGALL, MVD

MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE

MR EMERY, BL DIV, HOLE OFFICE, CROYDON

MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT, HOME OFFICE

ROOM 236, CLIVE HOUSE.

MR MCDONOUGH, B2 DIV, HOME OFFICE

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