CONFIDENTIAL
Nationality and Treaty Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Clive House Petty France London SW1H 9HD
J Macgregor Esq British Embassy PRAGUE
Telephone 01-213 3794
Your reference
Our reference
Date
луй
My
ал сы Hill
19
эраздена
GNP 343/32
1177
19 December 1986
Dear Macgregor,
HONG KONG:
1.
HKK 340/1 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 6 JAN 1987
FFICER
PA
3/1
RY
,aken
FACILITATING TRAVEL OF BN (0)s TO THIRD COUNTRIES
I am sorry not to have been able to reply earlier to your letter of 10 October asking for a defensive line on the question of Hong Kong's visa policy towards East European nationals in case the Czechs bring up the subject when you approach them about BN (0) status and passports.
2.
We asked for Hong Kong's advice on their policy and I enclose a copy of their telegram 4071 in reply. In response to the question in paragraph 4, MVD have commented that they have no standard line of defence on the issue of visas and do not consider one necessary. Visas are issued on the basis of personal acceptability and there is no recent knowledge that we have been accused of being selective in the issue of visas. I fear this gives little for you to draw on should the Czechs raise the question but if they do, you may wish to make the following points:
3.
(a)
the Hong Kong Government are repsonsible for drawing up their own Immigration Rules and administering them and make their own decisions on visa applications;
(b) visas for businessmen are considered entirely on their
commerical merit on an individual basis.
You could offer to take note of any representations made by the Czéchs and to report them to the Hong Kong Government. If Hong Kong's review of visas for East European nationals results in a relaxation of their policy and the Czechs were to believe that their represent- ations were responsible, so much the better. We would not wish to disillusion them.
4. This letter has been cleared in draft with HKD, MVD and EED.
l'our ever Saundie heter
DFB Le Breton
CONFIDENTIAL
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