RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
HKC345/1
RECEPT5 Bi; Ar
04 JAN 1991
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY F C O
INDLA
TELNO 3804
A
OF 2403OOZ DECEMBER 90
INFO ROUTINE VIENNA
Mubion Taken
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
043340
MDLIAN 6846
62
11
YOUR TELNO 2396:
ANGLO/AUSTRIAN VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR SUCH A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION. AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, OPTION A MEANS THAT THE AUSTRIANS WOULD WAIVE VISA REQUIREMENTS ONLY FOR HOLDERS OF BN (0) AND BDTC PASSPORTS WITH AN ENDORSEMENT FOR RE-ADMISSION TO THE UK. THIS DIFFERS FROM EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN AUSTRIAN AND HONG KONG WHERE BY ALL HK BDTCS CAN ENJOY VISA FREE ACCESS TO AUSTRIA. FOR THAT REASON, SEE DIFFICULTIES WITH OPTION A WHICH COVERS ONLY HK BDTCS AND BN (0)S WITH RETURNABILITY TO THE UK.
2.
ΤΟ
WE
GIVEN THAT THE AUSTRIANS INTEND TO RE-NEGOTIATE THE ANGLO/AUSTRIAN VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT, WE SEE NO HARM IN PURSUING OPTION B WITH THE AUSTRIANS AS AN INTERIM ARRANGEMENT, I.E. REVISE THE ANGLO/AUSTRIAN VAA TO COVER PASSPORT HOLDERS FROM BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, INCLUDING HONG KONG BDTCS AND BNOS PASSPORT HOLDERS. IT IS IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, THAT IN THE COURSE OF NEGOTIATION, THE POSITION OF HK BDTCS SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.
3. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE AUSTRIANS WOULD AGREE TO OPTION B. HOWEVER, WE HOPE YOU COULD DRAW THEIR ATTENTION AGAIN TO THE FOUR POINTS WE MADE IN HONG KONG TELNO 2510. IF THE AUSTRIANS ARE NOT PREPARED TO AGREE TO OPTION B, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD APPEAL TO THEM TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW ALL HK BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS VISA FREE ENTRY AS AT PRESENT.
WILSON
YYYY
Mr Stainty ti
Tel out agreed
with MVD.
Mr Stephenson may
مدله
ring Lawrence Leung (tr. 5) Imming) a Monday to make
1
sure
the situation is clear.
pa for 28/12.
PAGE RESTRICTED