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scheme will involve will fall on the Hong Kong authorities
at their own borders. It is therefore not expected that our visa issuing authorities overseas will be called upon to take on any substantial additional work load, although the Governor considers that some temporary increase in work may devolve on our Missions at Rawalpindi and New Delhi and perhaps on those at Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Australian posts.
Legislation
11.
Most of the powers required to operate the scheme are already available under existing Hong Kong legislation. One minor amendment will, however, be required to the Hong Kong Immigration (Control and Offences) Ordinance, the need for which is explained in paragraph 12 of the memorandum.
Date of Introduction of Scheme
12. No date has yet been fixed for the introduction of the scheme but the Governor has stated that it will not be introduced earlier than 1 September, 1969.
Consultation with other Departments in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and with British Missions in Commonwealth Countries
13.
The only overseas Missions which have so far been informed of the intention to introduce the scheme are those at Rawalpindi, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Wellington and Canberra. Our Mission at New Delhi have stated that so far as they can judge they will be able to take on without difficulty any extra work involved in issuing entry visas. No comments have been received either from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Our Mission at Rawalpindi have entered reservations (Rawalpindi telegram No. 574) regarding their ability to handle any substantial increase in the number of applications for visas which may result from the introduction of the scheme, without extra staff. However, it is not considered that the extra work load is likely to exceed the capacity of their existing staff plus an additional Grade 10 officer who will shortly join them. Rawalpindi have also raised certain points of detail in their
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