:
CONFIDENTIAL
B.
4.
PART II
Cerman Visa requirements for Hong Kong Passport Holders
Because citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who
belong to British dependent territories are generally subject
to U.K. immigration controls, since the passing of the
Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1968, they can no longer
be automatically sent to the U.K. 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 requirement.
This is because the Germans consider that they will be con-
fronted 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.
5.
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.
6. 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
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CONFIDENTIAL