It was agreed orally between the Governor and the Consul-
General that this would entail an increase from 200 multiple
visas a year to "about 500." The Consul-General insisted that
any increase above this number would give rise to considerable
difficulties, and he suggested an annual review. These
arrangements were due to be brought into effect on 1 February
1973. We have had no news of any recent developments and assume
that they are proceeding smoothly.
German Visa Requirements for Hong Kong Passport Holders
6.
We are committed at Ministerial level to approaching the
Germans to request a relaxation of their visa requirements for
British subjects from Hong Kong. The prospects of obtaining any
relaxation are increasingly bleak because of the large numbers
of illegal immigrants from Hong Kong who enter the Benelux
countries under our Visa Abolition Agreements with those countries,
many of whom filter across into Germany.
7. Numbers of illegal immigrants have been deported from the
Netherlands to the UK and thence at HMG's expense to Hong Kong.
The Belgians have deported numbers to Hong Kong direct. We await
a substantive reply from the Governor on our proposals, that in
making a Ministerial approach to the Germans, the Home Office would
undertake that no Hong Kong UK passport holders deported from
Germany via the UK would be returned to Germany and that the Hong
Kong Government would undertake to refund direct to the Germans
the full deportation expenses incurred by them.
8. It is not likely that a Ministerial approach to the Germans
will meet with any success. The recent problems of UK passport
holders of Asian origin from East Africa attempting to enter the
UK via Europe has caused most European countries, including
/Germany
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