TNAG-1844-FCO40-2619-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 144

CTWAFV (3)

2. Reaction to BN (0) Passports

(a) 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

For example, in opposed to BDTC passports) has been increasing.

The

October and November 1987, the preference rate was only 13%. most recent figures, for February 1989, show a preference rate of

18.35%.

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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 (0) 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.