CONFIDENTIAL
are generally subject to United Kingdom immigration
controls, since the passing of the Commonwealth
Immigrants Act of 1968, they can no longer be automatically
sent to the United Kingdom by the German authorities if
any problem arises over their admission to or stay in
Germany. In view of this, the present policy of the
Federal German authorities is that all persons belonging
to British dependent territories and travelling on
passports issued in those territories are subject to the
German visa requirements. This is because the Germans
consider that they will be confronted with fewer problems
if they exercise control over Colonial belongers through
their normal visa system. This is a matter which affects
all British dependent territories and not only Hong Kong.
10. Despite their attitude as described above, the
Germans welcome any gesture by our overseas dependent
territories as regards a unilateral concession of visa
waiver in respect of German nationals wishing to visit
such territories. The Hong Kong authorities have, in
fact, allowed such a concession to enable German nationals
to visit the Colony for a stay of up to one month and
they would like the Germans to afford reciprocal facilities
for Hong Kong passport holders visiting the Federal German
Republic.
11. It is understood that the Hong Kong authorities are
taking up the matter in an informal way with the German
Consul-General in Hong Kong to ascertain whether it would
be worthwhile to re-open negotiations with a view to
/obtaining.................
-4- CONFIDENTIAL