CTWAFV (3)
2. Reaction to BN(0) Passports
Take up rate of BN (0) passports in Hong Kong
It inevitably takes time for people to become used to something new. That is true of the BN (0) passport. However, in the last few months the preference rate for applications for BN(0) passports (as opposed to BDTC passports) has been increasing. For example, in October and November 1987, the preference rate was only 13%. most recent figures, for February 1989, show a preference rate of
18.35%.
The
I am confident that the take up rate will increase as more people become used to the new status and the passport that goes with it. They will see that their friends and relations are able to travel widely using a BN(O) passport without encountering any difficulties.
As 1997 approaches more people will also wish to switch to BN (0) passports since that status will continue beyond 1997, whereas the status of Hong Kong BDTC will cease to exist then.
International Acceptability of BN (0) passports?
- I recognise that this has been a continuing major concern in Hong Kong. In accordance with the undertaking which we gave during the debates on the Hong Kong Nationality Order in Council in 1986, we mounted a major worldwide diplomatic exercise before the introduction of the passport on 1 July 1987 to explain the new status and passport to third countries. We are confident that that
exercise successfully clarified the issue to third countries. No country has indicated that they would not accept the BN (0) passport. Many countries publicly welcomed it.
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The passport has now been in circulation for over eighteen months.
Nearly 270,000 people are already travelling on it without
encountering problems. [If anyone were to encounter difficulties,
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