GRS 320
RESTRICTED
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
FM BANGKOK 26233Z
TO PRIORITY VISFO LONDON
TELNO VISA 958 OF 230CT79 INFO HONGKONG( IMMIG)
S
YOUR TELNO VISA 63 OF 190CT.
RESTRICTED
HKK345/2
RA
HONGKONG TRANSIT VISAS FOR TAIWANESE
DESK OFFICER INDEX
BRY
PA
1. WE HAVE NOW DISCUSSED THIS MATTER IN DETAIL WITH CARTER WHO HAS SAID HE IS NOT PREPARED TO CONSIDER ISSUING TRANSIT VISAS TO TAIWANESE CITIZENS ON THEIR ARRIVAL IN HONGKONG AS IT
WOULD BE BOTH TIME-CONSUMING AND TEND TO QUOTE CLUTTER -UP UNQUOTE THE AIRPORT,
2. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS NEVER THE INTENTION THAT THIS CONSULAR SECTION SHOULD ISSUE 48 HOUR HONGKONG VISITORS VISAS TO TAIWANESE CITIZENS WHO WERE RESIDENT IN TAIWAN, BUT THAT WE SHOULD DEAL ONLY WITH TAIWANESE CITIZENS WHO WERE RESIDENT IN THAILAND. CARTER HAS THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT ON HIS RETURN TO HONGKONG ON 240CT HE WILL RECOMMEND TO HIS DEPARTMENT THAT FROM 1 JANUARY 1980 THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS FOR 48 HOURS HONGKONG. VISITORS VISAS FROM TAIWANESE CITIZENS RESIDENT IN TAIWAN SHOULD REVERT TO THE HONGKONG IMMIG-
RATION DEPT.
3. AS THE DATE ON WHICH IT IS PROPOSED TO TRANSFER THESE FUNCTIONS WILL GIVE US AMPLE TIME TO INFORM LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTS, AIRLINES ETC AND FOR THE AUTHORITIES IN HONGKONG SIMILARLY TO INFORM ORGANISATIONS IN TAIWAN OF THIS CHANGE IN PROCEDURE WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION S TO THE ARRANGEMENTS AS THEY WILL :-
A) REDUCE THE CONSULAR WORKLOAD TO MORE MANAGEABLE PROPORTIONS B) ENABLE US TO WITHDRAW OUR BID FOR ONE HOME BASED VISA OFFICER AND TWO LOCALLY ENGAGED CLERKS.
C) ENSURE THAT VISA APPLICATIONS FROM TAIWANESE CITIZENS RESIDENT IN TAIWAN ARE EXAMINED BY THE HONGKONG AUTHORITIES PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE OF THE TRAVELLER FROM TAIWAN.
D) ENABLE THIS CONSULAR SECTION TO GIVE DETAILED ATTENTION
·
TO VISA APPLICATIONS FROM TAIWANESE CITIZENS RESIDENT IN THAILAND. 4. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF, AFTER CONSULTING INTERESTED DEPART- -MENTS, YOUR APPROVAL COULD BE GIVEN TO THESE PROPOSALS.
5. VISFO REGISTRY PLEASE COPY TO MANPOWER POLICY SECTION OF PPD. TRIBO
MVD
PRO HRVQD
RESTRICTED