CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY OF STALELS ISIT TO
FEBRUARY 1972
B, EXCLUSION OF HONG KONG FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM/JAPAN
VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT OF 2 NOVEMBER 1962
1. The negotiations with the Japanese authorities in 1962,
which led to the Visa Abolition Agreement in that year, were
conducted with the primary intention on the part of both
Governments of easing restriction on travel between Japan and
the United Kingdom. The Government did not ask that Hong
Kong be excluded from the Agreement, but the Japanese made it
clear from the outset of the negotiations (on an informal and
confidential basis) that they were not keen to extend any
agreement with the UK to include Hong Kong. However, it was
accepted by both Governments that visa abolition arrangements
for HMG's dependent territories, including Hong Kong, could be
the subject of further negotiations at a later date if so
required.
2. The Hong Kong Government have consistently maintained
pressure to be included in the agreement or for a waiver arrange-
ment to be concluded. A series of approaches to effect either
arrangement has been made at official level to the Japanese, whose
basic objection has been that if they agreed to admit Hong Kong
Passport Holders without visas, they would lose control over
the admission of subversive Chinese elements. When the matter
was raised in 1966 the Ministry of Justice also objected on the
grounds that it has considerable trouble in ridding Japan of
the significant number of Hong Kong Chinese who enter Japan,
ostensibly as tourists with visas, and then stay to work.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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