Mr. Wang Feng Chao, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said that the promotion of the Special Administrative Region passport and the British National (Overseas) passport would be done separately for sovereignty reasons.
Mrs. Rita Fan Tsui Lai Tai, the Preliminary Working Committee Social and Security sub-group leader, said China’s refusal in cooperation with Britain was to avoid the illusion that Hong Kong would be ruled by both governments after 1997.
“Not optimistic” was how Miss Emily Lau, a legislative councillor described her feeling over China’s ability to get visa exemptions from various countries. Some foreign countries worried that people would make use of visa-free arrangements to travel overseas and stay there illegally.
Said Miss Lau: “Even though this is unlikely to happen to Hong Kong people, it may still take several years to convince some foreign countries, and it would bring more faith if China works with Britain.”
Another Legislative Councillor, Mr. Fung Kim Kee, echoed Miss Lau’s opinion. “With Britain’s support and acceptance, other European countries are more likely to grant the privilege,” he said.
Mrs. Fan stressed the importance of Britain setting an example in waiving visa requirements on the travel document. If Britain would grant visa-free entry first, it would strengthen other countries’ confidence and they would be inclined to consider more favourably to the passport.
“As long as Britain waives visa requirements on the Special Administrative Region passport, it is a promoting act already. The act itself alone is enough to bring confidence to foreign countries,” she said.
She believed that it will do more good than harm for Britain in doing so. She pointed out that not many Hong Kong people were keen on emigrating to Britain. This can be reflected by the fact that not many people with the right to abode in Britain actually go to live there.
“If Britain fails to do that, Hong Kong people will have a feeling of being let down,” Mrs. Fan said.
China’s refusal to promote the passport with Britain did not worry Mrs. Fan and she was confident that Britain would eventually waive visas.
Dr. Ann Jordan, an authority on the Basic Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said Britain might not grant the privilege. Besides its own interests, Britain had to consider those of other European countries which had no responsibility towards Hong Kong.
These countries are afraid of political instability after 1997 and influx of refugees from Hong Kong. This effectively prevents them from giving visa exemptions. Britain will experience pressure from them and be likely to act in accordance with them.
“Whether various countries waive visa requirements depends mainly on how China treats Hong Kong. This will take a long time to prove,” Dr. Jordan said.
She said China hopes to get more visa-free exemptions than the British National passport, that is up to 80. China could make up the number with less developed countries like Vietnam, Korea and Cuba, where Hong Kong people travel frequently.
China announced that British National passports will be effective after the handover. However, her refusal to promote the British National passport with Britain raised doubts.
Dr. Jordan pointed out that foreign countries were most concerned about the deportatiton problem. If China does not promise re-entry rights to British National passports’ holders, foreign countries will impose restrictions on their entry. China needed not to do anything, but the use of British National passports would be effectively put off. This would further restrict the freedom of Hong Kong citizens.
But Mr. Wang said the BN(O), Certificate of Identity, Documents of Identity and Hong Kong Sailor Travel Documents would be valid after the changeover.
Miss Chan Yuen Han, a legislative councillor and vice-president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union, believed Hong Kong has a bright future.
Said Miss Chan: “Most countries do want to do business with China and Hong Kong. It is natural that they will want mutual visa-free arrangements with the SAR. If they don’t, they are too short-sighted.”
The Special Administrative Region passport is a symbol of China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong. As Miss Chan said, to maintain Hong Kong’s status and image as an international city, China and Britain have to work in concer. That is the wish of all Hong Kong people.
December 1995