Mr Goodison
Hell 345/6 h @
жин
тий
иду
31
CONFIDENTIAL
нни
345/4
cc FED MVD
INSCEIVM) IN REVY NO. 51
0.3 SER1981
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
HONG KONG TRANSIT VISAS
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
Problem
Plus 319
A
2-2
1. To reply to Peking Telegram Number 529, which recommends we
exchange notes or memoranda with the Chinese MFA on aspects of Hong
Kong transit visas for Chinese passport holders.
Recommendation
See 2. I recommend that Peking be instructed to speak on the lines of
32
the attached draft telegram.
FED, PPD and MVD concur.
B
Background
3. The Chinese put three complaints to the Secretary of State in
Peking in April about the handling of Chinese passport holders
transitting Hong Kong:
(i) they were discriminated against and maltreated;
(ii)
(iii)
they were only allowed a 48-hour transit;
they could not obtain visas from the British Embassy in Peking
but had to do so from the Hong Kong Immigration Department at
Lo Wu on the border with Hong Kong.
The background is set out in Mr Morrice's submission of 21 May and
C) Peking Telegram Number 25 of 2 April to Hong Kong.
4.
The Embassy told the Chinese:
D/G
D/G
E/G
—
—
on (i) that Hong Kong could find no evidence for the complaint;
on (ii) that Hong Kong were prepared to relax the rules for transit
stopover periods;
on (iii) that it was not administratively possible for the Embassy
to issue transit visas for Hong Kong. But Hong Kong would arrange
for visas to be issued on arrival at Kai Tak airport.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5.