TNAG-2950-FCO40-4227-Hong-Kong-visa-free-travel-for-British-Nationals-(Overseas)--1993 — Page 74

17 February 1993

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C Her has R pa pre

Sean

Our Ref: 349/1

Your Ref:

PMO/SEC/232/1-

17/293

British

High Commission Mauritius

King George V Avenue Floreal

Mauritius

Telephone: 686_5795/6/7/8/9 Telex: 4266 (a/b 4266 UKREP IW) Facsimile: 6865792

Mrs Tara Seebaluck

(for Secretary for Home Affairs) Prime Minister's Office

Dear Mrs Seebaluck

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) (BNO) PASSPORT HOLDERS VISITING MAURITIUS

Further to our telephone conversation this morning and your letter of today's date received this afternoon we are happy to let you have our views on the above-mentioned subject.

You will wish to know that the status of BNO has been available by registration since 1 July 1987 to a person who is a British Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC) connected with

1 July 1997 under Hong Kong and who will cease to be a BDTC on

There will be the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. a phased programme in the run-up to 1 July 1997 to register Hong Kong BDTCs as BNOs.

There are only two countries in the world which admit Hong Kong BDTC passport holders visa-free, but do not apply the

One of these is same rules to Hong Kong BNO passport holders. Mauritius. In other words in most countries BDTC and BNO passport holders enjoy equal status.

The Hong Kong Government is anxious to resolve these two anomalies given that in all other respects the Hong Kong BDTC and BNO passports have equal standing, and they seek the co- operation of the Government of Mauritius in resolving the

matter.

• Yours sincerely

Karen Yaylor

Karen Taylor (Mrs

Attache Consular/Immigration

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