TNAG-1748-FCO40-2467-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 215

CONFIDENTIAL

145

034172 MDHIAN 0162

CONFIDENTIAL FM MANILA

TO DESKBY 20100OZ FCO

TELNO 123

OF 20050OZ MAY 88

FOR SEAD

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: BRIEFING

TRADE

MKB 027/3

1. WE HOPE THE BRIEF WILL COVER ONE OF THE BEST PROSPECTS FOR BRITISH EXPORTS, NAMELY DE LA RUE'S EFFORTS TO SUPPLY IDENTITY CARDS (SEE PRIESTLEY'S BUSINESS VISITOR REPORT OF 9 FEBRUARY, COPIED TO SEAD). IF SUCCESSFUL, SOME #100 MILLION OF BUSBESS WOULD BE INVOLVED.

2.

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THE IDEA OF A NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD IS CONTROVERSIAL. THE AFP SEE IT AS A WAY OF COMBATING CRIME AND INSURGENCY. SOME HUMAN RIGHTS MINDED CONGRESSMEN OPPOSE IT. DE LA RUE'S PLAN, ON WHICH THEY ARE MAKING SOME HEADWAY, IS PLAN, ON WHICH THEY ARE MAKING SOME HEADWAY, IS FOR A NATIONAL POPULATION DATA BASE' USING EXISTING INFORMATION WITH THE USE OF CARDS BY INDIVIDUALS BEING VOLUNTARY. THE HOPE IS THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WOULD SEE THE ADVANTAGE OF SOME FORM OF CARD. FINANCE WOULD COME FROM CHARGING FEES FOR ALIENS

CARDS ONLY. THIS LAST ASPECT IS SCARCELY MENTIONED IN THE PRESS AND WOULD AROUSE OPPOSITION FROM EXPATRIATES AND POTENTIAL INVESTORS, BUT APPARENTLY IT WORKS IN SOME NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.

3.

FEASIBILITY

SECRETARY REYES HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH PREPARING A STUDY ON THE SUBJECT. IT IS ONE WHICH WOULD BE NATURAL TO RAISE WITH MANGLAPUS AND EVEN (PERHAPS IN AN ASIDE ) WITH MRS AQUINO. ONE COULD SAY THERE IS A MAJOR BRITISH COMPANY

PREPARED TO HELP WITH THIS IMPORTANT TASK. DE LA RUE'S REGIONAL MANAGER KNIGHT IS RECOMMENDING THAT HES CHAIRMAN

WRITES TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

4.

BY WAY OF PRELIMINARY DE LA RUE ARE IN A CONSORTIUM WHICH HOPES TO WIN A 40 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR PASSPORT

PRINTING FOR THE DFA. THE LATTER HAVE ASKED DE LA RUE ABOUT ATP POSSIBILITIES.

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CONFIDENTIAL