TNAG-2936-FCO40-4211-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 86

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por copy to CONFIDENTIAL Miss Greengrass, UKPA

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

and the

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 900

OF 151153Z OCTOBER 93

YOUR TELNO 1420 AND 1604: BRITISH CITIZENS

1.

P.A.

11/10

360

Barnes

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Ms Bann, Jone. Mr. Ramai #19/3

Mr. Mans

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155506 MDHOAN 9464

265

19/30 NTN 340/313

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BDTCS/BN (0) PASSPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR,

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1

The reopening of this subject has prompted us to examine our decision that the endorsement of BC passports be simplified (paragraph 2 of our telno 767 refers). The previously proposed endorsement contained in Morris's Letter of 15 June to Mrs Chow and in paragraph 5 of FCO telno 154 to Abidjan to the effect that quote the holder of this passport has Hong Kong permanent identity card number

which states that the holder has the

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·

right of abode in Hong Kong. The holder is also a British National (Overseas). unquote is merely a statement of fact which remains just as true after 30 June 1997 as before. The observation does not state that the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong but merely states that he possesses a Hong Kong permanent identity card with this statement in it We find it difficult to accept that such a statement of fact could cause a problem. Moreover, many persons who are issued with BN (0) passports, particularly those applying outside Hong Kong, may well have acquired a foreign nationality and on the basis of the criteria in paragraph 3 of your telno 1289 may not have the automatic right of abode in Hong Kong after 30 June 1997. That being the case we cannot follow the logic of continuing to put this observation in BN (0) passports and omitting it from BC passports. In the light of the foregoing, we do not believe that the instructions which have issued should be revised.

2.

On your paragraph 3, Legal Advisers in both the FCO and the Home Office have accepted that a BC passport with a BN (0) observation constitutes quote such a British passport unquote under the Memorandum We appreciate the difficulties in explaining this difference in approach to holders of BDTC passports. We suggest that you use the following arguments: -

·

a) Since BDTC passports will expire on 30 June 1997, there would be no point in making a BN (0) endorsement in such passports.

1

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MUD 340

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RECEIVE

- 3 NOV 1993

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CONFIDENTIAL

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