TNAG-2935-FCO40-4210-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 38

ния 340 RECEIVE IN

1

CONFIDENTIAL

Beater 02 AUG 1993ll file

For decision on-

DESK OFFICEA

18 May 1993 DEX

an

hey neep

á sch What it he vice versa).

214

Buss

un pa how- hoodnow speak just

116. Quali

Mbulb Blue Volume XXXXXV(1)

4/6

Mrs Barnes fore

fi Waotian

XCX(93)22

Copy No.

27/5.

B-F

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

(HKSAR)

THE PROBLEM

10348/1.

HKO

There will be a need for the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government to issue travel documents from 1 July 1997. Both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law state that the Central People's Government shall authorise the HKSAR Government to issue such documents. Therefore, we need to agree with the Chinese authorities, before that date, the type, eligibility and design of travel document to be issued by the HKSAR Government and that the Immigration Department of the HKSAR will be responsible for the issue of these documents.

RECOMMENDATION AND ADVICE SOUGHT

2

(a)

(b)

It is recommended that -

we propose to the Chinese side at the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) that the Immigration Department of the HKSAR should issue the travel documents with the eligibility described at Annexes B to F; and

we agree with the Chinese side the specifications (dimensions, colour, design) of each document in due

course.

3

Members will be asked to advise whether this recommendation should be approved.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

4

Hong Kong residents who are British Dependent Territories Citizens (BDTCs) will lose that status on 1 July 1997. Those with British National (Overseas) [BN(O)] passports will be able to use them after 1997; those who do not seek to obtain BN(O) passports will have to obtain HKSAR passports or another form of HKSAR travel document.

Executive Council