GPS 400
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PARIS
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1065
OF 221711Z OCTOBER 86
CONFIDENTIAL
AMENDED DISTRIBUTION
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DIST
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 2 8 OCT 1986
REGISTRY
Des: OFFICER
PA
Action Taken
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR.
mak 712
HONG KONG BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS): FACILITATING TRAVEL TO
THIRD COUNTRIES.
1. MINISTER TOOK ACTION ON 20 OCTOBER WITH THE QUAI AS INSTRUCTED IN
LE BRETON'S LETTER OF 23 SEPTEMBER TO HEADS OF MISSION. HE HANDED
OVER A NOTE TO MADAME RENQUARD (WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY DELABE) AND
DREW ORALLY ON THE SUPPLEMENTARY SPEAKING NOTE ANNEXED TO THAT
LETTER, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS WAS PART OF A GENERAL EXERCISE IN
CAPITALS. WESTON ADDED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FRENCH NEED FOR
FURTHER DETAILED BRIEFING, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR A STAFF
MEMBER FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN BRUSSELS TO FOLLOW UP
ANY DETAILED POINTS.
2. MADAME PENOUARD AND DELARE SAID THEY WOULD STUDY OUR NOTE, THEY
TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT THAT FOR ANYONE LOOSELY DESCRIBED AS
BRITISH TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM VISA-FREE ENTPY INTO FRANCE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS THEIR PASSPORT NEEDED
EITHER TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE STRAIGHTFORWARD CITIZENS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OR TO CARRY SOME EXPLICIT INDICATION THAT THEY DID NOT NEED
A VISA TO BE ADMITTED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. MISUNDERSTANDINGS AT
FRENCH FRONTIERS HAD ARISEN IN THE PAST BECAUSE SOME PASSPORTS
(NOTABLY THOSE ISSUED BEFORE 1983) DID NOT CARRY ANY SUCH EXPLICIT
ENDORSEMENT. THE MAIN PRACTICAL PROBLEM FOR THE FRENCH WAS THE NEED
TO BE SURE THAT ANY SUCH PERSON ADMITTED TO FRANCE FOR VISITS OF UP
TO THREE MONTHS SHOULD BE READMISSIBLE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM IF IN
THE EVENT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT DECIDED FOR WHATEVER PEASON (EG INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS) THAT THE PERSON CONCERNED WAS NO LONGER WELCOME IN FRANCE. HENCE THE NEED FOR AN EXPLICIT REFERENCE IN THE PASSPORT WHEN THE TRAVELLER FIRST PRESENTED HIMSELF AT THE FRENCH
FRONTIER.
3. MADAME REMOUARD AND BELABE CONFIRMED (MY TELEGRAM 936, PARA 2) THAT THE RECENT DECISION BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE A NEW VISA REQUIREMENT FOR ALL COUNTRIES EXCEPT EC MEMBERS AND SWITZERLAND DID NOT (NOT) FORMALLY APPLY TO HONG KONG DTCS. SUCH PERSONS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ADMITTED TO FRANCE WITHOUT VISAS PROVIDING THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES WERE SATISFIED FROM THEIR PASSPORTS THAT THEY DID NOT REQUIRE A VISA TO BE ADMITTED TO THE UK. MADAME RENOUARD AND DELASE SAID THEY COULD WELL UNDERSTAND THAT A NUMBER OF HONG KONG BDTCS MIGHT IN CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES BE PLAYING SAFE AND OBTAINING PRIOR CLEARANCES FROM FRENCH CONSULATES BEFORE TRAVELLING, BUT THIS WAS
CONFIDENTIAL
NOT