[file]
HOFO 01/08
PP F C O
RR
HONGÁID
GR 1955
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 280622Z OCT 79
HKK3H5/2
RECEIVED
ADVANGE
INDEX
20. 51
Hd/MUD (2)* -Hal Had GD
TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO,1385 OF 8 OCTOBER,
INFO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
FOR M V D AND KKGD.
FOR BROWNLESS FROM DRIDGE.
Par
bouch
with Mri n. this
B.U.15.10.
сли
M
b
层
RJMR 8/10
MeUD have checked UK agreements with Switzerland France, Netherlands, Italy. Each lists tervitamies to which viša adclition
extends : Hory Kory does not appear on
any of these 138. can paint to Austrian
Lake
HK they
MOND to notify. formal preceded to support
RJMR
8/10.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE AUSTRIAN CONSUL GENERAL HERE, WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE HIS GOVERNMENT TO ADMIT HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS FOR SHORT VISITS WITHOUT VISAS. AS A RESULT OF HIS REPRESENTATIONS
HE HAS RECEIVED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, ON ONE OF WHICH HE HAS ASKED OUR HELP. HIS GOVERNMENT WISHES TO KKNOW WHETHER THE, ARRANGEMENTS BY WHICH SOME OTHER EEUROPEAN COUNTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE, FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS AND SWITZERLAND, ADMIT HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS WITHOUT VISAS ARE ENTIRELY INFORMAL OR ARE PROVIDED FOR IN BILATERAL AGREEMENTS EITHER WITH HONG KONG OR WITH THE U.K.
WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TRACE ANY RECORD OF SUCH AGREEMENTS OURSELVES, BUT ENQUIRIES WITH THE RELEVANT LOCAL CONSULATES SUGGEST THAT THEY DO EXIST, ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME DIFFICULTY IN TRACING THE DATES, THE SWISS CONSULATE WAS HOWEVER ABLE TO REFER US TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ULK AND SWITZERLAND DATED 27 AUGUST 1963, WHICH THEY SAID ALSO COVERED HONG KONG.
WE SHALL BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE US, WHICH WOULD HELP THE AUSTRIAN CONSUL GENERAL IN HIS REPLY,
MACLEHOSE