CONFIDENTIAL
Renting suitable accommodation may be a problem.
Hong Kong landlords do not like queues of people outside their buildings. Also Hong Kong rents are
going up.
(iii) Option C.
Passport applications processed through a front office in the new building, with applications
checked for accuracy and fee taken in Hong Kong. Applications examined and passports issued in UK by
the Passport Agency.
- New Concept. Never tried out before. Passport
Agency would have to be consulted.
- Would give the impression that Hong Kong passport holders were being treated as second class citizens.
Not politically acceptable.
Full British citizen passport holders would have to
be treated same way.
- MRS consider that passport service would take no
more than 25 days. NTCD thought much longer. Normal service at our overseas posts is 5 days. The Passport
Agency and HKID take 20.
-
All passport applications would have to be
thoroughly checked [and examined] before being sent to the Passport Agency in order to avoid queries which would cause further delay.
-
There would still be a need for Hong Kong to issue emergency passports and full passports in an emergency. This could amount to a great many in view
of the time taken in processing passports in the UK.
-
Space saving would amount to about one floor of the new building. Similar redesigning considerations as
deletion of two floors in Option B.
scwg.21may.NAT
SLM
CONFIDENTIAL
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