CODE 18-77
AWO Ltd. 7/84
CP1ALR
Mr Miller, MVD
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 040/28
RECEIVER RECISTAY
19 AUG 1985
W
Reference.....
HKK 040/28
126
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS INTO FRANCE FOR HONG KONG BDTCS
1. Thank you for your minute of 30 July and 9 August to Mrs Priest.
2. I take your points about the case of Mr Chow, now nearly a year out of date as it is.
However, as you know, we have far more recent indications that the French are (haphazardly at least) applying a more restrictive policy towards Hong Kong BDTCs than Thomas Cook would have us believe.
3. I understand from the Hong Kong Government Office in London that they have made some enquiries of their own which
indicate that the French Consulate in London is advising that visas are required and charging a fee in the case of Hong Kong BDTC passports, whereas CUKC passports are endorsed without charge.
4. Moreover,
the individual case which has now arisen in Hong Kong is a serious one which, added to the political difficulties that any French toughening up over visa requirements will cause us, makes it imperative that we now seek authoritative clarification from them - presumably in Paris of their current policy towards Hong Kong BDTCs. The case, which is recounted in Mrs Ip's letter to Mr Galsworthy of 26 July, concerns an unofficial member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, the Hon Francis Tien, CBE. The Hong Kong Government have undertaken to take up this case Tien's behalf.
5.
-
on Mr
For this reason, we must I think take up with the French this confusion over their entry requirements for Hong Kong BDTCs. Also, as you say, there are wider considerations that make it necessary that we act on behalf of Hong Kong passport holders at this time. While taking the point about the risks of an unhelpful French response, surely we can minimise these to some extent by making in Paris the political points that we have recently put to the Danes and Swedes. A telegram to Paris, I suggest, copied to/Hong Kong, and asking Paris to approach the Quai to clarify this issue from HKD or MVD?
CE Leeks' Hong Kong Department WH 312
233 4439
15 August 1985
CONFIDENTIAL