TNAG-1571-FCO40-2137-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 21

SPEAKING NOTE

RECE

2 0 JAN 1987

ING

TY

cken

казак

11975

HONG KONG: TRAVEL TO THIRD COUNTRIES BY HONG KONG RESIDENTS

1.. Assistant Minister Gonzales raised a number of specific

questions when the British Ambassador called on her on 11 November.

These arose from the Ministry's study of the Embassy's Note No

189/86 of 29 October about the forthcoming introduction of British

National (Overseas) passports and associated papers. The Ambassador

undertook to make enquiries.

2.

The answers to Mrs Gonzales'

questions are as follows:

(i) What will be the position of BDTC passport holders who

travel to the Philippines shortly before 1 July 1997 and who possess no other travel document? Could they still be returned to Hong Kong if they were still in

the Philippines after 1 July 1997?

If

Any former Hong Kong BDTC passport holder in the

Philippines after 30 June 1997 who was of Chinese

ethnic origin would be able to obtain a Hong Kong SAR

passport or travel document from the PRC Embassy.

he were an ethnic minority former BDTC passport

holder with no other nationality he would be able to

obtain a BOC passport from the British Embassy. The passing of the 1 July 1997 deadline would not affect

the returnability to Hong Kong of such persons. All BDTC passport holders have the right of abode in Hong Kong up to 1997. In accordance with the provisions of the Joint Declaration they will con-

tinue to do so after 1997 unless, in the case of non-

ethnic Chinese, they have the right of abode (and

hence are returnable) elsewhere.

There is accordingly no reason to set a date prior

to 1 July 1997 after which BDTC passports would not be accepted.

/ (ii)