TNAG-2644-FCO40-3837-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-overseas-rights-to-abode-and-passp-1992 — Page 98

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CANCELLATION OF LESOTHO PASSPORTS: HONG KONG IMMIGRATION TELNO 005 TO US AND OUR TELNOS 026 (1991) AND 001 (1992) TO HONG KONG

1.

MOLAPO, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CALLED DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES TO A MEETING TODAY TO CONFIRM THE INVALIDITY OF THE 276 LESOTHO PASSPORTS LISTED IN THE MFA'S NOTE OF 3 DECEMBER (COPIED TO YOU AND HONG KONG BY BAG AND NOW FAXED TO YOU BOTH) DESPITE REPORTS IN THE HONG KONG PRESS THAT THEY WERE STILL VALID. THEIR CANCELLATION HAD BEEN A DECISION OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL. MOLAPO SAID THAT THE SALE OF THESE PASSPORTS TO ENCOURAGE FOREIGN INVESTORS TO COME TO LESOTHO HAD BEEN THE IDEA OF LEKHANYA, THE PREVIOUS CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL, WHO HAD BEEN OUSTED IN APRIL. THE CABINET AND THE MILITARY COUNCIL HAD NOT BEEN CONSULTED. RELEVANT LEGISLATION EMPOWERING THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR TO REGISTER NEW CITIZENS AND ISSUE PASSPORTS, HAD BEEN RUSHED THROUGH BY OFFICIALS IN EARLY MAY SHORTLY AFTER LEKHANYA'S FALL, AGAIN WITHOUT DISCUSSION WITHIN THE NEW GOVERNMENT (ALTHOUGH THE NEW CHAIRMAN HAD SIGNED THE ORDER). HE HAD ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT WHEN CASES BEGAN TO BE REPORTED TO HIM OF FOREIGNERS IN POSSESSION OF LESOTHO PASSPORTS WHO WERE NOT INVESTORS AND HE HAD NOW TAKEN STEPS TO CANCEL THE PASSPORTS AND REPEAL THE LEGISLATION.

2.

MOLAPO SAID THAT THE PASSPORTS HAD BEEN SOLD MAINLY TO CHINESE IN HONG KONG FOR 10 TO 33,000 US DOLLARS. THE LESOTHO HONORARY CONSULATE IN HONG KONG HAD PLAYED A ROLE. THE MFA LIST WAS PROBABLY NOT COMPREHENSIVE: OTHER PASSPORTS MAY HAVE

BEEN ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR AND POSSIBLY DIRECTLY TO THE HONORARY CONSULATE ALTHOUGH THE CONSULATE WAS NOT SO EMPOWERED. HE WANTED TO CLEAR UP THE MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

AND HE ASKED FOR OUR COOPERATION IN ENSURING THAT ANYONE FOUND TRAVELLING WITH A PASSPORT ON THE LIST SHOULD HAVE THE DOCUMENT IMPOUNDED, AND THAT QUOTE CHINESE UNQUOTE BEARING LESOTHO

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