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SCMP Reporter

MORE than 80 per cent of eligible Hong Kong citizens aged between 22 and 26 have applied for a British Nationals Overseas (BNO) passport, the latest count by the Immigration Department has revealed.

  The department's assistant director, Chan Ching-bor, described the first phase of the programme to register for BNO passports as very successful since they expected only a 70 per cent turnout rate.

  However, more than 40,000 in the age group failed to apply before the designated deadline at the end of last month.

  Mr Chan said there were many reasons for people not applying.

  ''Some may have gone overseas, emigrated - and some may be living in countries which do not permit dual nationalities. There are also people who consider they would not need such a passport after 1997,'' he said.

  The phased programme for application is intended to help the 3.5 million British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong to retain British nationality by having a BNO passport which will be valid beyond 1997.

  The phased programme aims to enable an orderly flow of applications. Those who fail to apply before the designated deadlines may lose their British nationality unless they have special reasons for their late applications.

  The Immigration Department has received 225 late applications.

  ''We are in the process of assessing these cases to see if there are special circumstances leading to their late applications,'' Mr Chan said.

  Reasons given for late applications include hospitalisation and imprisonment.

  But Mr Chan refused to elaborate on excuses that would be acceptable, to avoid tailored applications.

  It will take about 16 weeks for the department to process the applications.

  Phase two, which covers those aged between 27 and 32, started this month and will end next March.

  Mr Chan expected about 80 per cent, or 240,000 people, from the age group to apply.

  To minimise problems for those working or studying overseas, the Government will make forms available in Hong Kong so their relatives can mail them to potential applicants.

  There have been complaints that those living overseas could not register in time because forms for them were different from those for local applicants, and the embassies which distributed the forms were not accessible.



High application rate for BNO passports