GPS 290
CONFIDENMAL
FM HONG KONG 300656Z MAR 33
TO PRIORITY PEKING
CONFIDEN
TELEGRAM NUMBER 158 OF 30 MARCH
INFO PRIORITY F C O
HKK 349/1
OARD AMPY NO. 31 30 MAR 1983
TOP COPY
PEKING TELNO 238: CHINESE VISA OFFICE"
: 30/3
CH 13/4
(4)
No
1. EXCO HAVE NOW APPROVED THE LINE IN PARA 3 OF MY TELNO 314, WITH
ONE MODIFICATION. MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED THAT THE CONCESSION ON
PASSPORTS SHOULD NOT SE ABUSED AND THEIR AGREEMENT TO THIS WAS
SUBJECT TO A REQUIREMENT THAT THE VISA OFFICE SHOULD REPORT TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT THE DETAILS OF ALL PASSPORTS ISSUED. TO
MEET THIS POINT, THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE SHOULD BE ADDED TO
PARA 3(A) OF MY TUR : ''FULL DETAILS OF ALL REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS ISSUED IN THIS WAY SHOULD BE REPORTED BY THE VISA OFFICE TO THE
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IN HONG KONG ON A MONTHLY BASIS''.
2. AS REGARDS THE POINT IN PARA 2 OF YOUR TUR, THE VISA OFFICE ARE
IN THEORY LIABLE TO TAXES AS FOLLOWS:
(A) SALARIES TAX ON THEIR STAFF.
(B) RATES ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THEM.
(C) PROPERTY TAX ON THE REVENUE FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED BY THEM
AND LET TO THIRD PARTIES.
(D) FIRST REGISTRATION TAX ON ALL VEHICLES BOUGHT NEW OR IMPORTED
INTO HONG KONG.
(E) ANNUAL VEHICLE LICENCE FEE.
(F) TAXES ON ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FUEL, (THE ONLY COMMODITIES
WHICH ARE TAXED IN HONG KONG).
EXEMPTION FROM (A) HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTION. (B) AND (C) DO NOT APPLY BECAUSE THE VISA OFFICE AND STAFF
ARE ALL AT PRESENT HOUSED WITHIN THE NCNA BUILDING. BUT WE HAVE
ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT THEY COULD BE GRANTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTION. THE ONLY PRACTICAL EFFECT OF LEGISLATION WOULD, THEREFORE,
BE TO GRANT EXEMPTION FROM TAXES (D), (E) AND (F). VEHICLE TAXES
ARE NOW HEAVY IN HONG KONG: TAXES ON FUEL AND TOBACCO ARE NOT
PARTICULARLY HEAVY, BUT THEY WERE RAISED IN THE RECENT BUDGET.
IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THAT THE TAX BURDEN IS
NEGLIGIBLE, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT ONEROUS AND THE EFFECTS ARE
FINANCIAL NOT OPERATIONAL.
HKCK 34513 €
3. ON TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PRC PASSPORT HOLDERS, WE FULLY AGREE WITH THE ARGUMENTS IN PEKING TELNO 272. WE SHARE THE
AMBASSADOR'S HOPE THAT A DECISION CAN BE TAKEN IN LONDON IN TIME
FOR A RESPONSE TO BE GIVEN TO THE CHINESE ON BOTH QUESTIONS
IMMEDIATELY AFTER EASTER.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HRGD (4)
FED
NTD
ред
CONS D
MR DONALD
CONFIDEN MAL
THIS TELIORAM WAS NOT
ADVANCED
9