of Ages.
JD 160
19.
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VAAS without a termination date would, with the
understanding of the third countries concerned, implicitly
survive 1997. The reference to "holders of Hong Kong
Travel Documents with the Right of Abode in Hong Kong"
would overcome the need to refer to British
nationals/British passports/Chinese nationals/HKSAR
passports. Consequently, negotiations on VAAS could start before the Chinese could sort out the HKSAR passport, thereby overcoming the difficulties identified in paragraphs 14 and 17.
20.
An added advantage of this option would be that
there would not be any need for further VAA negotiations
for the benefit of HKSAR passport holders.
21.
Obviously such a course of action would require
prior consultation with the Chinese. But as such VAAS
would benefit not only BN (O)s but also future HKSAR passport holders, the Chinese might agree to us going down. this path.
22.
There might well be legal and political
difficulties. One problem which suggests itself
immediately is that third countries would be likely to
question our authority to negotiate VAAS (the Japanese for
instance want UK confirmation that we are authorised to
talk to them on multi-entry visa arrangements for
businessmen). We would need authorisation from UK if we
rather than the UK are to conduct the negotiations. Recent
indications are that this should not be a problem.
It
1 would however be inappropriate for China to "authorise" us
to enter into commitment for the HKSAR.
A way out could
be for China to notify the third countries concerned that
after 1997 they/HKSAR Government would honour the commitments entered by Hong Kong in the VAAS.
23.
This appears to be an option to which we should
give further thought.
GF 323
SCR 13/2071/47 pt. 5
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