TNAG-2931-FCO40-4206-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 28

15-APR-1993 10:47

24 IND LIVERPOOL

From: C J Kelly

B4 Division

India Buildings GTN 4126-307

15 April 1993

Mr Woodrow

Hong Kong Department FCO

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT

Mr Woodrow Tel sen

John

44 091 22 1786

раро

F.01

papis 74

CC Mr Rawsthorne

with others.

Mr Walmsley

Mr Burgess Mr Giles

I am clearing this draft

others. You may wish to have advance sight of it. I hope it won't be changed

BN(O) cut-off date scheme

$6

Significantly.

Clind 15/4

You may care to draw on the following comments in responding to Hong Kong telegram no. 566.

2.

Lacquine BNO status and f With regard to LegCo's option c/the drafting of the UK Memorandum attached to the Joint Declaration

is open to interpretation. If the passport referred to is a BN(0) passport then all BDTCS would have to be in physical possession of a BN(0) passport prior to 1.7.97 in order to be able to use that passport after that date. If it is a BDTC passport then they would not need to meet this requirement. Home Office Legal Advisers

believe that the former is the better and safer view.

-

3. If that is accepted the next question is whether there is any value in having a two stage process apply before 1.7.97 (registration then passport issue). One could do all the necessary work register the applicant and produce the passport - but leave the passport on file and allow the applicant to continue using the BDTC passport until much nearer to 1997, then at that point issue the BNO passport in return for the BDTC one. But disentangling the present forms and procedures and devising new ones would take time to complete and some mechanism would still be required for ensuring that applicants came forward in orderly fashion. One could only ensure this by taking legislative action. A two stage process would clearly be a less economical arrangement than the BN(0) cut-off date scheme and it is hard to see what real benefit would be achieved by it. Administrative difficulties would be caused not only in Hong Kong but at all issuing posts and in the UK.

5.

They

On option D,

D, Passport Agency have reiterated their opposition to the unnecessary proliferation of passports. have operational and security objections.

TheD 348/1

жер

X

CONFIDENTIAL

20 APR 1993