TNAG-2936-FCO40-4211-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 43

EDWARD S.T. HO, O.B.E., J.P.

Member of Legislative Council

Representative of Architectural, Surveying and Planning Functional Constituency

November 10, 1993

The Hon. Emily Lau

Chairman

Subcommittee on Nationality c/o OMLEGCO Secretariat Jackson Road

Hong Kong

Dear Emily,

BNO Passport Application

This letter is to elaborate on the problem that I perceive for people who study or live overseas and who are eligible to apply for the British National (Overseas) Passport. As you know, I have asked a written question in LegCo on 3 November and I feel that the reply is not convincing.

1.

First of all, I appreciate the difficulty of enabling all those who live abroad to know of the cut-off dates for registration when overseas Chinese probably live in many parts of the world and many of which are outside large cities. The Administration's reply only said that their advertisements were in nine overseas Chinese newspapers circulated in different countries. It is difficult to judge whether such ucwspapers would reach the large number of overseas citizens especially the young persons who may not read Chinese newspapers. Similarly, young people living overseas would not necessarily belong to the so-called "overseas Hong Kong conummunities" which may have contact with the Hong Kong Government overseas offices.

Experiences of my daughter have shown that it was nearly impossible to contact the British Embassy in Washington D.C. by phone and I can imagine that many people would have the same problem contacting any one of the British Embassies

5/F Citypluza 3, Taikoo Shing. Hong Kong

Tel. 8039889 Fax 5131733

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