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HKB RECEIVED IN RECISTRY
TO DESKBY 23010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1196
OF 22163OZ JUNE 90
33
065507
MDHOAN 1283
25 JUN 1990
CRICER
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REGISTRY
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YOUR TELNO 1944: VISA POLICY FOR NATIONALS OF EAST EUROPEAN AND COMMUNIST STATES
1.
NATIONALS OF THE NEW REPUBLIC OF YEMEN STILL REQUIRE VISAS FOR THE UK, UNLIKE GDR NATIONALS WHO ARE NOW VISA FREE. BEFORE YEMEN UNITY, VISA APPLICATIONS FROM THE YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC COULD BE DECIDED LOCALLY WHILE APPLICATIONS FROM THE PDRY HAD TO BE REFERRED TO LONDON FOR DECISION. THE SECURITY SERVICE HAVE NOW AGREED THAT SUCH REFERRALS CAN BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED, WITH ALL DECISIONS BEING TAKEN AT POSTS, SUBJECT TO THE USUAL CHECKS BEING MADE (IE. THAT APPLICANTS QUALIFY UNDER THE IMMIGRATION RULES AND ARE NOT ON THE UK VISA WARNING LIST). AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, WE AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR THE NEW REPUBLIC OF YEMEN TO BE REMOVED FROM BOTH YOUR LISTS
AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.
2. WE NOTE FROM PARA 4 OF TUR THAT YOU STILL SEE VALUE IN ANY
TRACES THE SECURITY SERVICE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE. DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU PROPOSE TO EXTEND YOUR SUGGESTED TEN DAY TIMETABLE FOR PROCESSING VISA APPLICATIONS FROM POLISH, HUNGARIAN AND CZECH NATIONALS QUERY.
3. AS FAR AS EX-POST FACTO ACTION IS CONCERNED, UK IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ALSO RETAIN THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY TO TRAVELLERS WHO
HAVE BEEN GRANTED VISAS. WE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHETHER YOUR POWERS GO ANY FURTHER THAN THIS.
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