GRS 650
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
CONFIDENTIAL AMENDED DIST
12/12/86
TELNO 4114
OF 12034OZ DECEMBER 86
INFO ROUTINE_MADRID
TOP
COPT
Q DIST ?
ник 384. RECEIVEI
INLE
'4''
12 DEC 1986
OUR TELNO 4054 : VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR HK BDTC'S AND BN (0)'S
SUMMARY
1. FRUITFUL MEETING WITH RAFAEL PASTOR, DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR CONSULAR AFFAIRS FROM SPAIN. PASTOR SAW NO PROBLEM IN BN(0) STATUS AND PASSPORT BEING ACCEPTED AND SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WAS AGREEABLE TO ABOLISHING VISA REQUIREMENT FOR BDTC AND BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS.
DETAIL
2. AT OUR INVITATION PASTOR, ACCOMPANIED BY CONSUL-GENERAL (PEDAUYE) CALLED ON S FOR S ON 11 DEC TO DISCUSS BN (0) PASSPORTS AND VISA ABOLITION. THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION (CARTER) WAS PRESENT.
3. PASTOR REPEATED PEDAUYE'S EARLIER OBSERVATION (OUR TELNO 3807) THAT THE BN (0) STATUS AND PASSPORT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AND THERE WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION SHORTLY.
MAL'STRY
Action Taken
gmik.
4. PASTOR SOUGHT CLARIFICATION ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR BN (0) PASSPORT AND WAS TOLD THAT 3.5 MILLION WOULD BE ELIGIBLE BUT NOT ALL OF THEM WOULD APPLY FOR ONE. HE AGREED THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PASSPORTS ISSUED WAS NOT A SIGNIFICANT POINT.
5. PASTOR ALSO ASKED WHETHER THE CHINESE HAD AGREED TO THE ISSUE OF THE BN (0) PASSPORT. S FOR S ASSURED HIM THAT THEY HAD AND THE AGREEMENT WAS RECORDED IN AN EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA.
6. PASTOR WENT ON THE DESCRIBE THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM FACED BY SPAIN AND SAID THAT APART FROM PORTUGUESES, MOROCCANS, IRANIANS, THAIS AND FILIPINOS AS MANY AS 20,000 ETHNIC CHINESE WERE LIVING IN SPAIN ILLEGALLY. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM WERE FROM TAIWAN AND MAINLAND CHINA. PASTOR SAID THEY HAD USED FAKE PASSPORTS AND VISAS TO GAIN ENTRY, PROMPTING THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES TO INTRODUCE NEW 'FAKE-PROOF VISAS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. CARTER ASKED FOR SAMPLES OF THE NEW VISA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS COULD BE ARRANGED.
CONFIDENTIAL
17
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