TNAG-2936-FCO40-4211-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-1993 — Page 87

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b). If this were done for all BDTC passports, the British Government would not be able to replace them with BN (0) passports in anything less than a 5 to 10 year phased programme;

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c) Since BDTC status for those connected with Hong Kong will cease to exist after 30 June 1997, the placing of a BN (0) observation in such passports would serve to create doubts about the continuation of the BN (0) status.

3. We continue to believe that to follow the procedure in paragraph 7 of your telno 1289 would invite ridicule. Nor do we see how such a procedure would meet the literal interpretation of the UK memorandum (JD 227) that quote hold unquote means physical possession. As para 2 states, our own proposal (ie BN (0) endorsement in a BC passport) on the other hand would meet the requirements of JD 227.

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