PS 1100
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTAL
131100Z MAY 31
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 497 OF 13 MAY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
HKK
345/4
RECEIVIC 1217*** 0. $1 1 4 MAY 1081
DESK OLAILER
INDEX
PA
(16
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
低
مثال
YOUR TELNO 441 AND PEKING TELNO 329: HONG KONG TRANSIT VISAS.
Action ipke
PC 2715
HE HAVE BEEN REEXAMINING THE QUESTION OF TRANSIT VISAS IN THE LIGHT
OF PROBLEMS RAISED IN TWO TURS. LIKE YOU AND PEKING, WE SEE
CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING WITH EMBASSY STAFFING
PROBLEMS BY POSTING HONG KONG IMMIGRATION OFFICERS THERE. THIS WAS See/17
NOT SOMETHING WE HAD ENVISAGED DOING.
2. WE STILL DO NOT LIKE THE ALTERNATIVE IDEA OF USING CTS AS A
DIRECT LINK TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT (NOR ARE WE SURE THAT THIS IS
WHAT THE CHINESE HAD IN MIND). THERE ARE MANY POSSIBLE PROBLEMS:
AMONGST THEM GIVING CTS (AND POSSIBLY A FUTURE VISA OFFICE) THE
ROLE OF QUASI-SPONSOR: INEVITABLE DELAY: AND FEARS ABOUT THE EXTENT
OF CORRUPTION IN THE LOCAL CTS.
3. A MORE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFICULTY IS THE INEFFECTIVENESS AS A METHOD OF CONTROL OF A REMOTELY OPERATED VISA SYSTEM. WE HAVE TO
KEEP FIRMLY IN MIND THE BACKGROUND TO THE TRANSIT PROBLEM.
LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CLAIMING TO PE IN TRANSIT CLEARLY HAVE
THE INTENTION OF STAYING IN HONG KONG. EVEN NOW IT IS ONLY WITH
GREAT DIFFICULTY AND MUCH ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORT THAT WE HAVE
SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING TO 3 PER CENT THE NUMBER WHO FAIL TO GO ON.
IF VISAS WERE ISSUED BY IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ON THE BASIS OF
DOCUMENTS FORWARDED THROUGH CTS, IT WOULD STILL BE NECESSARY TO
CHECK BONA FIDES ON ARRIVAL AND PROBABLY TO DISALLON TRANSIT TO A
NUMBER OF DOUBTFUL CASES. TO A LESSER DEGREE, DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF PERSONAL INTERVIEWING, THIS WOULS ALSO BE TRUE IF VISAS WERE ISSUED BY THE EMBASSY. CONSEQUENTLY, WE COULD FINISH WITH AN INEFFECTIVE SYSTEM COUPLED WITH THE NEED TO INTERVIEW AND REJECT ON ARRIVAL SOME WITH VALID VISAS. THIS MIGHT WELL INCREASE CHINESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION.
4. A MORE FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTION WOULD BE TO ALLOW KAI TAK AIRPORT
TO BE USED BY CHINESE ORDINARY PASSPORT HOLDERS IN TRANSIT IN THE
SAME WAY AS LOWU HOW OPERATES. THIS WOULD ADD TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT'S BURDENS AND INCREASED NUMBERS WOULD ADD TO THE DIFFICULTIES AND TO DELAYS IN PROCESSING PASSENGERS, CONSEQUENTLY WE COULD ONLY MAKE THE CHANGE ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
(A) THOSE CONCERNED SHOULD HAVE ORDINARY CHINESE PASSPORTS, VALI? ONWARD VISAS (OR VISA PROMIS LETTERS) AND VALID ONWARD TICKETS: (E) TOTAL MUMBERS OF PASSPORT HOLDERS TRANSITTING HONG KONG WOULD NOT RISE APPRECIABLY ABOVE THE PRESENT LEVEL (ABOUT 65 FER DAY) (C) TRANSIT VISAS WOULD NORMALLY BE GIVEN FOR ONE WEEK ON ARRIVAL TO THOSE WITH A VALID REASON AND A CLEAR INTENTION OF GOING ON. IT WOULD BE UP TO 1 MIGRATION OFFICERS TO INSIST ON IMMEDIATE TRANSIT TO THE ONWARD DESTINATION SHOULD THEY HAVE DOURTS AFOUT THE INTENT-
CONFIDENTAL
/IONS OF
see (17)
20
45
Bu noted
BU
for 27/5
Bu ish noted.
f14.5
Pas
1515