TNAG-2933-FCO40-4208-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 8

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but story keelings intik

worth

telling

delegation.

(b)

equivalent to the BDTC passport in all but one minor respect (Austria allows BDTC passport holders visa- free entry, but not BN(0) holders), BDTCS stand to lose nothing in having to apply early for registration as BN (O)s and to receive the BN (0) passports. There is no valid reason for wanting to hold the BDTC passports to the last moment. In particular the Government has no plans to make any changes to its

nationality law;

Unfairness

The right to delay applying for registration as a BN(0) right up to 30 June 1997 cannot in practice be granted. Large numbers of applications submitted in the last few weeks or months prior to the change of sovereignty could not be processed by 30 June. The phased programme gives all BDTCs fair chance and reasonable time to submit applications and a guarantee that they will receive

their BN(0) status;

(c) Agreement

-

with

with Chinese

passport.

Need for possession of

passport The understanding reached between the British and the Chinese Governments in the exchange of

Memoranda annexed to the Joint Declaration was that

all BDTCS who wish to use BN (0) passports after 30

June 1997 have to be in possession of the passport by that date. The terms of the United Kingdom Memorandum

link retention of the BN(0) status post 1997 to

holding of a BN (0)

It is legally permissible to allow registered BN(0)s to collect their passports at any time before 1 July 1997 but there would be serious practical difficulties with

either introducing another phased programme for collection ΟΙ leaving registered BN(0)s free to collect their passports at any time before 1 July 1997. Therefore, the registration of status should not be separated from the issuing of the passport and

both have to be completed before 1 July 1997.

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