TNAG-1570-FCO40-2136-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 86

British Embassy

Skarpögatan 6 115 27 Stockholm

Telex 19340 Telephone 08/670140

Mr Hans Corell

Under-Secretary for Legal and

Consular Affairs

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Tysta Marigången 2 STOCKHOLM

HUTE 310/

RECEIVED IN PEGISTRY

- 2 DEC 1986

Jen Hans

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ASAR

(pa

Your reference

Our reference

Date

PA

Autica kaken

12/2

November 1986

1087

HONG KONG:

BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS)

When he returned from his call on you on 15 October, the Ambassador passed on to me two queries you had raised on the new arrangements. I have been in touch with the FCO in London about these and am now able to give you the answers.

You asked, first, whether our proposals had the full support of the Chinese Government. The answer is that indeed they do. Your Department already has a copy of the Joint Declaration and associated documents from December 1984, which set out the general principles. I now enclose a copy of an exchange of Memoranda of April this year dealing with the detailed arrangements.

You also asked about the arrangements that would be made after 1997 for any BN (0) passports that might be lost. I should first emphasise that the cut-off date of 1 July 1997 is for acquiring BN (0) status and the issue of a first passport in that status. Unless renounced, that status will be retained for life. Clearly, the passports themselves are liable to expire, become full or be reported lost or stolen. In these cases, the normal arrangements will apply; further passports will be issued in replacement both before and after 1 July 1997. In the case of lost or stolen passports, applications will be dealt with by the nearest passport-issuing Post and, where necessary, checks will be made with the Post which issued the missing passport, before a replacement is issued. A central register will also be

kept of all who have become BN (O)s and this will remain in British hands after 1997.

I hope this information is helpful. We shall be delighted to help if you or your staff have any further queries.

The Ambassador told me that a formal view of the request in the third paragraph of the Aide Memoire he left with you would have to await the January 1987 meeting of the Co-ordinating Group

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