TNAG-2936-FCO40-4211-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 44

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I cannot understand why application forms would be different for Hong Kong applicants and overseas applicants as it would certainly help if relatives of overseas persons can obtain such forms from the Hong Kong Immigration Office for their

use.

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Since my question to the Administration, I also found out that people who apply for BNO passports need to have birth certificates to send in at the same time of the application. This alsojcan pose a problem if applicants were to apply at a late stage when there is little time left for the cut-off date as their birth certificates may be kept with their families in Hong Kong.

The information furnished to overseas applicants from the British Embassy was that it takes 12 weeks to process a BNO passport. They also require the applicants to send in their unexpired BDTC passports. In other words, for a maximum of 12 weeks, the applicant would not possess a travel document which is highly unsatisfactory. The British Embassy informed that if there is a plane ticket enclosed, then they can process the application faster but, as you know, if you live overseas, you do not need to travel by plane out of a country but you do need your travel document. I suggest that, if BDTC passport is required for verification puposes, then the British Embassy should just verify the BDTC passport and retur! it at once to the applicant so that he or she would not be without any travel document for a length of time.

The information given out by the British Embassy also does not indicate that in fact the BDTC passport would be returned to the applicants. As you know, the British Government has agreed to a Hong Kong BDTC passport holder holding a ENO passport at the same time prior to June 1997. If they keep to their promise, then they should let applicants know so that they are not so concerned.

f understand that your Subcommittee would be having a meeting with the Administration on the issue but, unfortunately, I will not be in Hong Kong to attend the meeting and I hope that the above would be of assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Edward S.T. Ho

C..

TOTAL P.04

Ell/nh