GR 350
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDEN
NTIAL
FM PEKING 230344Z OCT 81
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 649 OF 23 OCTOBER
AND TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG
HKK 34514
*
SOCT 1981
142
PA
Pls 25110
MIPT
M
J
पत्र
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF CHINESE STATEMENT.
BEGINS
UNDERSTANDING ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHINESE CITIZENS
TRAVELLING VIA HONG KONG FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES
THROUGH CONSULTATIONS, THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN CHINA ON THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE
CHINESE CITIZENS TRAVELLING VIA HONG KONG FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES.
1. THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG WILL GRANT 7 DAYS
STAY IN HONG KONG TO CHINESE CITIZENS TRAVELLING TO HONG KONG IN TRANSIT FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES, PROVIDING SUCH CITIZENS HAVE VALID CHINESE PASSPORTS, ENTRY VISAS FOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION OR LETTERS ISSUED BY COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION AGREEING TO ISSUE VISAS IN HONG KONG AND WILL CONTINUE
THEIR JOURNEYS TO THE COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION. IF THERE ARE JUST REASONS, SUCH AS SECURING VISAS FOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION, PURCHASING AIR TICKETS OR VISITING RELATIVES AND FRIENDS, THE DURATION COULD BE EXTENDED TO ONE MONTH AND IF THERE ARE SPECIAL CONDITIONS, THE DURATION OF STAY
COULD BE EXTENDED FOR MORE THAN ONE MONTH.
2. CHINESE CITIZENS SHOULD APPLY TO THE BRITISH EMBASSIES
OR CONSULATES FOR HONG KONG TRANSIT VISAS WHEN THEY TRAVEL
TO CHINA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES BY WAY OF HONG KONG. CHINESE
CITIZENS SHOULD APPLY TO THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN CHINA FOR
HONG KONG TRANSIT VISAS WHEN THEY RETURN FROM INTERIOR OF
CHINA TO THEIR RESIDENT COUNTRIES BY WAY OF HONG KONG,
CONSULTATIONS CONCERNING THE LOCATIONS AT WHICH CHINESE
CITIZENS TRAVELLING FROM MAINLAND CHINA BY WAY OF HONG KONG
FOR PRIVATE PURPOSESSCOULD APPLY FOR VISAS WOULD BE CONTINUED
BETWEEN THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN CHINA. UNTIL AN AGREE-
MENT IS REACHED THE STATUS QUO WILL BE MAINTAINED TEMPORARILY.
See
CONFIDENTIAL