TNAG-2359-FCO40-3430-Official-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 27

E.R.

confirmed that that was the Home Office view as well. Mr Leung

raised with me the problems Hong Kong Immigration Department

faced over re-registering over 3 million BDTCs as BN(0)s. As

with Mrs Dee, he was becoming concerned over the lack of firm

planning to handover UK visa work to BTC before 1997. Again I

said that this was for my colleagues

for my colleagues in the FCO and the Home

Office had not been involved. I would register Hong Kong's

concern on my return to London.

19. Hong Kong Border Control I mentioned for Mr Nicholls'

information that the Hong Kong Immigration Department has had a

computerised suspect index with terminals at each IO's desk for

some years now. For Hong Kong residents the number of the Hong

Kong identity card is typed in to the computer. For foreigners

the name is typed in and the computer can then ask for further

information, eg date of birth if it needs it. Records are kept

for 2 years locally and for 10 years at HQ. The system appears

to me to work extremely well. No doubt Mr Nicholls is already

aware of it but if not he may wish to contact Mr Ambrose Lee,

Assistant Director (Control and Investigation) who is the

equivalent of Miss Collins and is in charge of the computerised

border controls.

20. Mr Peter Lai, Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

Mr Lai, who is involved with negotiations with the Chinese on

post-1997, raised with me visa requirements. He confirmed that

post-1997 Hong Kong residents would have a distinctive passport to mainland China and that the issue of this passport would be

solely in the control of Hong Kong. I said that in UK law this would enable us to distinguish between Hong Kong and mainland China and we could in law decide not to impose a visa regime upon Hong Kong passport holders. However Mr Lai would be aware that

discussions were under way within the European Community

common visa requirements. While we in the UK saw no for a visa regime upon Hong Kong I did not know what the view of other EC States were. If a majority wanted a visa regime upon Hong Kong

the pressure would be upon the UK to fall into line. Mr Lai said

that he believed most EC countries had a visa requirement upon

Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government intended to discuss with the

need

on