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VISAS FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM, JAPAN AND GERMANY
Entry Certificates for Hong Kong UK Passport Holders
1.
Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils
have for some time been pressing for the issue of entry
certificates for the United Kingdom with a long-term validity,
preferably for up to 4 years. They claim that it is un-
reasonable that they should have to take out entry certificates
every time they travel to the United Kingdom and that, as UK
citizens, they should not be treated less favourably by the UK
Government than they are treated by the United States Government,
which commonly authorises the grant of 4 year visas to residents
of Hong Kong.
2. Visitors from Hong Kong are not bound to take out entry
certificates to the UK, but it is very much in their interest to
do so in order to secure trouble-free passage through immigration
controls on arrival. Entry certificates are normally valid only
for 6 months although there is provision for the issue of 12 month
entry certificates to important businessmen who have to travel
frequently.
3. We have taken this matter up with the Home Office through
correspondence between Mr Royle and Mr David Lane. The Home Office,
however, have refused to consider extending the validity of entry
certificates beyond 12 months. They are afraid that a concession
to Hong Kong would serve as a precedent for other parts of the
Commonwealth. With the present state of public concern about
immigration it will be difficult to shift the Home Office from this
/position.