CONFIDENTIAL
manning
who are recommended by the Commercial and Trade Sections of our High
Commissions who wish to pay a business visit to the United Kingdom.
Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and other prominent
citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies in Hong Kong have sought an
extension of the entry certificate facility so as to provide for certificates
to be valid for three to four years. (The Americans are said to issue
multiple visas valid for four years to prominent Hong Kong businessmen.)
It has been agreed that "Visitor B" certificates, valid for 12 months, should
be issued to Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, who are not
eligible for the issue of such entry certificates as businessmen, on the
authority of the Secretary for Security in the Colony, but we cannot agree to
the issue of entry certificates valid for three to four years. It would not
be sensible to make such a concession for some prominent citizens in Hong Kong
only. The general objection to entry certificates of long validity is that
circumstances may change and over a long period the possibility of abuse
increases.
We have not so far been able to agree that "Visitor B" entry certificatee
should be issued to people who are neither prominent businessmen or Members ot
the Executive and Legislative Councils, but who are of some prominence, as nas
also been suggested. It is difficult to know where this would lead us with
consequent weakening of our immigration control. Further proposals are
expected from Hong Kong, which will be considered.
WORK PERMITS
•
It is, at the moment, easier for a "stateless" resident in Hong Kong to
obtain a work permit issued by the Department of Employment that it is for a Hong Kong citizen! Most of the applications received are for employment in
the fatering trade.
CONFIDENTIAL
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