TNAG-2931-FCO40-4206-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 96

Re faxed to Muse to on

to Muse Ho on 13 May

2B

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

16 March 1993

London SW1A 2AH

Telephone: 071-

38

Miss Ingrid Ho

Security Branch

Government Secretariat

Hong Kong

Dear Miss Ho,

BN (0) PASSPORT APPLICATION FORMS

HKD 348/1

RECE

17 MAR 1993

IN..

My letter of 8 March. I have encouraged those concerned to let me have their views on the new application forms before I come out to see you.

We (Nationality, Treaty and Claims Department and Hong Kong Department), the Home Office and the Passport Agency agree that paragraph (a) should be deleted as you suggest. On (b) we all broadly agree with the first suggested revision. We see no need to raise questions about protection/travel outside China on the new application forms. You might like to consider mentioning the availability of BOC status for those who would otherwise be stateless by replacing the second sentence of paragraph (b) with the following:

"You may, however, retain British nationality beyond this

date by applying for a BN (0) passport before the date specified in the (Order in Council). Any BDTC who does not apply for BN (0) status and would otherwise become stateless on 1 July 1997 will automatically become a British Overseas Citizen."

Ideally it would be helpful to applicants to show the cut-off dates which will be specified in the Order in Council. But I can see that this may not be possible for at least the first batch of new passport application forms.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Yours sincerely

Deborah Barnes tous.

Deborah Barnes Jones Hong Kong Department

cc to Chns Kelly

ho.passports.NAT

JEB