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INCLUDE ANY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW SOON A CASE COULD BE MADE FOR HONG KONG TO BE COVERED IN THE AGREEMENT COUR TELNO 818), BUT WE ARE NOW BEING LOBBIED BY OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY TO LIFT OUR VISA REGIME ON ARGENTINIANS. THEIR ARGUMENTS ARE THAT SOUTH AMERICA IS BECOMING A NEW SOURCE OF VISITORS TO HONG KONG, THAT THE UK HAS RECENTLY LIFTED ITS VISA REQUIREMENTS ON THE ARGENTINIANS, AND WE SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT.
7. AT PRESENT WE REQUIRE VISAS 'FROM ALL ARGENTINIAN VISITORS: REFERRED VISAS FOR SOME SENSITIVE GROUPS LIKE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND UN-REFERRED VISAS FOR THE OTHERS. THE NUMBER OF ARGENTINIANS VISITING HONG KONG HAS BEEN SMALL: 1,715 IN 1988, 1,543 IN 1989 AND 811 UP TILL MAY IN 1990. SO FAR, ARGENTINIANS HAVE NOT CAUSED US IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS AND WE ARE PREPARED TO WAIVE VISA REQUIREMENTS FROM ALL ARGENTINIANS FOR VISITS FOR UP TO ONE MONTH. THIS WOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE SAME ARRANGEMENT WE HAD WITH THEM BEFORE THE FALKLANDS WAR.
8. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, LIKE RECIPROCITY. AT PRESENT, ARGENTINA REQUIRES VISAS FROM HK BDTC AND BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS VISITING ARGENTINA IRRESPECTIVE OF DURATION OF VISITS. WE HAVE HAD NO REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE IN ARGENTINA, AND HENCE WE HOPE THAT RECIPROCITY SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT FROM ARGENTINA'S
POINT OF VIEW.
9. IF YOU AGREE, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SOUND OUT BUENOS AIRES. AT THIS END, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO SOUND OUT THE CONSUL-
· GENERAL OF ARGENTINA, WHO RECENTLY COMPLAINED TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER THAT WE REQUIRE VISAS FOR ARGENTINIANS. WE WOULD POINT OUT THAT ARGENTINA ALSO REQUIRES VISAS FOR VISITORS FROM HONG KONG, AND SUGGEST A RECIPROCAL VISA WAIVER ARRANGEMENT FOR VISITS FOR UP TO 1 MONTH. IF ALL GOES WELL, THIS COULD ALSO BE DONE BY AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS IN HONG KONG.
10. IN THIS CONNECTION, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR A COPY OF THE NEW VAA BETWEEN U K AND ARGENTINA.
(C) SCHENGEN AGREEMENT
11. FINALLY, ON A RELATED ISSUE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE ADOPTION OF COMMON VISA REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT MAY HAVE ADVERSE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG. WE DO NOT HAVE THE DETAILS AND SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR MORE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE. ALTHOUGH THE AGREEMENT, SIGNED ON 19 JUNE, WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE BEFORE SPRING 1992, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE IT NOW TO SEE HOW HONG KONG
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