TNAG-2933-FCO40-4208-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 40

Lt.wardle.NAT

JEB

4 June 1993

CONFIDENŢIAL

HICD 340/1

07 JU. 1993

Copy

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

35

London SWIA 2AH

Charles Wardle, Esq MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Home Office

Queen Anne's Gate

London SW1H 9AT

From The Minister of State

Dear Charles.

HONG KONG: NATIONALITY MATTERS

Mr Marnis Was Bornes-Jones

pu Tio

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I wrote to you on 21 May saying that it was probable that the LegCo Delegation planning to visit London from 7 10 June would raise not only the question of passports for the ethnic minority but also LegCo misgivings about the proposed phased programme for the registration of British Nationals (Overseas) (BNOS) during their visit. I should record that when I was in Hong Kong (29 May - I June) LegCo pressed me on both these issues and on the request for citizenship for wives and widows of ex-servicemen. I said that I had asked the Home Office to look again at the BNO programme, and at the status of both groups, following a recommendation from the Hong Kong

Government.

It was evident to me during my visit that there does exist considerable public concern however misplaced about the programme. It also became clear that what really exercises BDTCS is the prospect of being compelled to relinquish their BDTC passports ahead of time. This prompts me to suggest that, while retaining legally-enforceable cut-off dates, we might adopt one of the more sensible administrative solutions which LegCo have suggested to the Hong Kong Government: either -

a) allowing the BDTCS to hold a BDTC and BNO passport concurrently;

b) post-dating the entry into force of the BNO passport;

or

c) registering the applicants but holding back the issue of their BNO passports until nearer 1997.

Any of these ideas would enable Hong Kong people to retain their BDTC passports until the last moment. My visit has convinced me that introducing one of these solutions would take the heat out of public debate, and would create the right conditions for the successful implementation of the registration programme, once the Order in Council receives parliamentary assent. I would welcome your thoughts on this approach - and on what the delegation might be told about the

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CONFIDENTIAL