CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
DJ McDonough Esq
B2 Division
Home Office
Lunar House
CROYDON
Telephone 01-
945
Your reference
CVV NETH/349/1
Our reference
НКК 340
Date
11 August 1986
RECEIVER
DESK
INDEX
Dear David,
27 AUG 1986
VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT WITH THE NETHERLANDS
1. Your letter of 25 July to Dennis Amy refers.
2. As you know, I had doubts about our adopting a position which would limit the applicability of the VAA to BN (0)s to the period up to 30 June 1997. Hong Kong have confirmed
(their telno 2566 in response to FCO telno 1668) that they would want us to secure, if possible, indefinite visa free access for BN (0)s. We strongly support them in this objective.
3.
I therefore suggest that in your amended paragraph 3 of the existing agreement we simply say "from 1 July 1987, British Nationals (Overseas)." I also suggest that, as a matter of presentation and to underline the close relationship between BDTCS and BN (O) s, we place BN (0)s immediately after BDTCs in the list.
4.
note.
I also have a number of minor comments
on your draft
a.
b.
Paragraph 3. I agree that a further escape clause on termination could undermine the BN (0) status and fully go along with your recommendation on this point.
Paragraph 4 (iii). The first sentence should presumably refer to "territories" not "countries". I agree that the annex should be updated to include Hong Kong, We spoke about this and the sort of line we thought it would be right to take with the Dutch is set out in the final sentence of paragraph 8 of FCO telno 1668. Hong Kong agree with that approach.
CONFIDENTIAL
/c.