Representatives from the Legislative Council plan to travel to London next week to lobby for greater flexibility in handling late applications for the British National (Overseas) passports.
Originally, James To Kun-sun of the Democratic Party, Emily Lau Wai-hing of The Frontier, and Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee of the Liberal Party, had planned to visit London tomorrow and Monday.
But now the plan has changed. The trip has been postponed because Monday is a bank holiday in Britain and both Ms Lau and Mrs Chow will not be available later.
'Martin Lee [Chu-ming] will go with me,' Mr To said. 'We hope we can meet Foreign Secretary Robin Cook to discuss the late applications.' Mr To accused the British Government of having no regard for Hong Kong people's travelling needs because it was refusing to handle late applications for the BNO passports.
He said the British Government had reiterated its position that it would only entertain late applications with 'good reason' according to a letter received from the British Trade Commission yesterday.
'To allow anything else would risk our ability to provide BNO passports to those who applied on time and to those with special circumstances,' the letter said.
