TNAG-1850-FCO40-2625-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 167

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

IF BN(O) IS EFFECTIVELY THE SAME AS BOC, WHY EXHORT PEOPLE TO TAKE

BN (0) IF THEY WILL ALL BECOME BOCS ANYWAY?

BN (0) status introduced as direct successor to Hong Kong BDTC at request of Hong Kong people who wanted to retain special links to

Britain.

Only those who are non-Chinese and who would otherwise become

stateless will automatically become BOC. Majority of Hong Kong residents would become Chinese nationals (and in eyes of Chinese already are).

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENCOURAGE GREATER TAKE-UP RATE OF BN (0)

PASSPORTS?

BN (0) should become more attractive as time goes on. Has standard 10-year validity and can continue to be used after 1997, whereas Hong Kong BDTC passports will all expire on 30 June 1997. Take-up rate of BN (0) passport beginning to creep up.

WHY DOES AUSTRIA IMPOSE A VISA REQUIREMENT ON BN (0)S BUT NOT BDTCs?

WHY DOES PAKISTAN REFUSE ENTRY TO BN (0)s? ANY OTHER PROBLEM

COUNTRIES?

Do not believe there is any problem with Pakistani acceptance of BN (0) passports. Not aware of travellers using BN (0) passport encountering difficulties elsewhere. But if they did, we would take matter up with authorities concerned.

As for Austria, have explained to Austrian authorities that BN (0) is for practical purposes same as BDTC and BN (0) holders should enjoy same visa-free access. Await response from Austrians.

ALAAAT

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