GR 225
RESTRICTED
HKCK 34511
RECEIVED ME
DESK
2 1 APR 1980
No. 51
REGISTRY
INDEXES MEN CIAction
FM HONG KONG 162340Z APR 80
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER VISA 82 OF 16 APRIL
Action Taken
Aw zi
spoken MUD
INFO VIENNA, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
FROM DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION
FOR MVD AND HKGD
VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS
тися,
Mr Morning
т
see
wingtiamson
Entr
2
2
Aushian Gundam here
taking the initiative.
ида тока, PA.
Ərikiam
THE AUSTRIAN CONSUL GENERAL HAS NOW TOLD ME THAT THE AUSTRIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAS NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE TO VISA WAIVER FOR HOLDERS OF HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORTS, BUT WOULD EXPECT THIS TO BE NEGOTIATED. HE SUGGESTED THAT AN AGREEMENT TO THIS EFFECT COULD TAKE THE FORM OF A VARIATION ON THE UK AUSTRIAN VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT (PRESUMABLY THIS COULD BE BY AN EXCHANGE OF NOTES, AS WITH THE SPANISH AGREEMENT OF 1960 OF WHICH A COPY WAS ENCLOSED WITH SHEPHERD'S LETTER TO ME OF 30 JANUARY 1980). THE CONSUL GENERAL ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE UK SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN OPENING NEGOTIATIONS.
IF YOU AND VIENNA SEE NO OBJECTION, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF AN APPROACH COULD BE MADE IN VIENNA ON THE SAME LINES AS THE RECENT APPROACH TO THE GERMANS IN BONN. THE CONSUL GENERAL SAID THAT ONE POINT THE AUSTRIANS WOULD RAISE WOULD BE WHETHER HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS COULD BE REMOVED TO UK RATHER THAN HONG KONG. I TOLD HIM THAT THIS WAS UNLIKELY TO BE ACCEPTABLE AND THAT A SIMILAR DUTCH REQUEST HAD BEEN TURNED DOWN. HE SAID THAT
COULD UNDERSTAND OUR OBJECTION, BUT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY WISH TO RAISE THE POINT IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS.
MACLEHOSE
PASSPORT CONTROL D
MVD
HKG D
COPIES
NK G OFFICE
6, GRAFTON STREET
WI
16.4
RESTRICTED