RESTRICTED
HKC345/1
RECEIVED IN ́RECISTRY
2 9 NOV 1990
RESTRICTED
DESK OPER
FM FCO
INDEX
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 2274
OF 28093OZ NOVEMBER 90
34
PA
141637 MDLOAN 4868
པ ཀ ཏཀ ཨཱ
57
Autton Tax
COPY
Repeated to Nieure.
QDIST?
YOUR TELNO 2510: ANGLO/AUSTRIAN VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT
►
1 YOU WILL BE PLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE FOUR POINTS IN TUR WERE INCORPORATED INTO A NOTE TO THE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY, WHICH NONETHELESS HAD TO CLARIFY THAT ONLY BN (0) AND BDTC PASSPORTS WITH AN ENDORSEMENT ON READMISSION TO THE UK WERE INCLUDED IN THE EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE UK AND AUSTRIA OF 1968 CONCERNING THE ABOLITION OF VISAS.
2.
MIGRATION AND VISA DEPARTMENT HAVE SINCE DISCUSSED THIS FURTHER WITH THE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY. THEY IDENTIFIED THREE
POSSIBLE WAYS FORWARD:-
A) TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO
B) TO REVISE OUR VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
C) TO EXCLUDE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES BUT INVITE THEM TO CONCLUDE SEPARATE VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS WITH AUSTRIA. THE AUSTRIANS STRESSED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW THEIR CAPITAL WOULD REACT TO OPTIONS (B) AND (C).
3. ALTHOUGH YOU INTEND TO NEGOTIATE YOUR OWN VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS IN DUE COURSE, IT IS LIKELY TO BE SOME TIME BEFORE ANY ARE IN PLACE. WE ASSUME THEREFORE THAT YOU WOULD WELCOME OPTION (B) AS AN INTERIM ARRANGEMENT. BEFORE REVERTING TO YOU, WE HAVE CHECKED WITH THE HOME OFFICE AND OTHERS THAT THEY ARE CONTENT TO PURSUE OPTION (B) WITH THE AUSTRIANS. THEY HAVE NOW CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE.
4.
WE
GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE OPTIONS ABOVE. SHALL THEN MAKE A FORMAL PROPOSAL TO THE AUSTRIANS (WE CANNOT OF COURSE FORESEE WHETHER THEY WILL BE PREPARED TO PURSUE OPTION (B) BUT WE MUST CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE COME TO IT).
HURD
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