CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 161130Z FCO
TELNO 2906
OF 161042Z DECEMBER 92
CONFIDENTIAL
top copy
95
167062 MDHIAN 2577
TOP COPY
Q DISTles, Ho lego #cursis
ce
pa mist
21/12 mess
Chins Kelly
By DV
jer
PHASED PROGRAMME FOR REGISTERING BDTCS AS BN (0)S AND FOR ISSUING THEM WITH BN (0) PASSPORTS
7/12.
1. THE EXCO PAPER A DRAFT OF WHICH WE FAXED TO YOU ON 17 NOVEMBER WAS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY (15 DEC). THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE PAPER WAS APPROVED BY EXCO.
2.
SUBSEQUENT TO CLEARING WITH YOU WE REVISED SLIGHTLY THE PARAGRAPHS ON PUBLICITY, TO SPELL OUT MORE CLEARLY THE TIMING OF THE PLAN THAT WAS WORKED OUT EARLIER IN THE YEAR FOR PUBLICITY IN TWO PHASES, THE FIRST STAGE BEING A MORE ROUTINE REMINDER, ASKING THOSE WHO WISH TO REGISTER FOR BN (0) STATUS TO DO SO IN GOOD TIME. ONLY IN THE SECOND PHASE, WHEN THE HOME OFFICE SUBMITTED THE DRAFT ORDER TO PARLIAMENT WOULD WE RELEASE THE PLAN OF A PHASED REGISTRATION PROGRAMME. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH UKREP JLG IT WAS AGREED ALSO ONLY TO INFORM THE CHINESE.
3. UNFORTUNATELY THE SUBJECT HAS BEEN LEAKED AFTER EXCO TO THE PRESS. SOME PAPERS SEEM TO HAVE RECEIVED GOOD INFORMATION TODAY ABOUT A PHASED PROGRAMME. WE DO NOT WANT TO CONFIRM DETAILS AND ESPECIALLY PROPOSED LEGAL SANCTIONS AT THIS STAGE, BUT WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT INITIAL PUBLICITY DOES NOT GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT AND WE MUST EMPHASISE THE PRACTICAL PROBLEM IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL FACE IF WE DO NOT DO SOMETHING SOON.
4. WE HAVE AGREED WITH UKREP TO ISSUE THIS EVENING A FAIRLY BRIEF PRESS RELEASE, THEREFORE WHICH FOCUSES ON REMINDERS OF THE JD AND THE NEED TO SWITCH FROM BDTC TO BN (0) IF REQUIRED, AND ON THE PROGRAMME BEING ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURE TO PREVENT UNMANAGEABLE LAST MINUTE DEMANDS IN 1996 OR 1997. THE TEXT OF THE DRAFT PRESS RELEASE IS BEING FAXED TO YOU SEPARATELY.
5. IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT WE THEREFORE HAVE NO TIME TO INFORM THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE OF THE PRESS RELEASE, WHICH DOES HOWEVER MAKE CLEAR THAT WE ARE ONLY RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS AND THAT BY IMPLICATION THE PUBLICITY WOULD HAVE COME OUT ANYWAY TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE ALTERNATIVE OF ALLOWING SOME PAPERS TO
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