CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3600
OF 141015Z NOVEMBER 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE LA PAZ
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 345,
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Q DIST?
FROM DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, HONG KONG
85
165554
MDHIAN 1935
THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT INCREASING NUMBERS OF FORMER PRC RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OBTAINED FOREIGN PASSPORTS THROUGH INVESTMENT, HAVE BEEN USING THESE PASSPORTS TO CIRCUMVENT THE ONE-WAY PERMIT SYSTEM ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA. SOME OF THEM HAVE USED THESE PASSPORTS TO ENTER HONG KONG VISITORS AND THEN APPLIED FOR PERMISSION TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG ON GROUNDS OF FAMILY REUNION, EMPLOYMENT, INVESTMENT OR EDUCATION. THEY KNOW LITTLE OR NOTHING ABOUT THE PASSPORT-ISSUING COUNTRIES AND HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH THEM. THEY HAVE RESIDED OVERSEAS FOR SHORT PERIODS OR NOT AT ALL. THE MOST COMMONLY USED PASSPORTS ARE THOSE
R.O.C!
who
ISSUED BY BELIZE, BOLIVIA, PANAMA AND TONGA.- All recognise
2.
WE HAVE, THEREFORE, DECIDED THAT WITH EFFECT FORM 16 NOVEMBER 1991, FORMER PRC RESIDENTS HOLDING PASSPORT ISSUED BY THESE COUNTRIES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCE, EMPLOYMENT, INVESTMENT OR EDUCATION IN HONG KONG UNLESS THEY HAVE RESIDED OUTSIDE CHINA OR MACAU FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THEIR APPLICATION.
3. THE ABOVE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT DOES NOT, HOWEVER, APPLY TO PERSONS COMING FOR VISITS. CITIZENS OF THESE COUNTRIES MAY CONTINUE TO ENTER HONG KONG WITHOUT A VISA FOR GENUINE SHORT VISITS.
4. WE WILL INFORM THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS NO BOLIVIAN REPRESENTATIVE HERE, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD KINDLY INFORM THE BOLIVIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN U.K. ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
''THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT, WITH EFFECT FROM 16 NOVEMBER 1991, FORMER PRC RESIDENTS HOLDING PASSPORTS ISSUED BY A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCE, EMPLOYMENT, INVESTMENT OR EDUCATION IN HONG KONG
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165554 MDHIAN 1935
UNLESS THEY HAVE RESIDED OUTSIDE CHINA OR MACAU FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THEIR APPLICATION. THESE INCLUDE
PASSPORTS ISSUED BY YOUR COUNTRY.
THE ABOVE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO PERSONS COMING FOR VISITS. HOLDERS OF BOLIVIAN PASSPORTS MAY CONTINUE TO ENTER HONG KONG WITHOUT A VISA FOR GENUINE VISITS. THESE MEASURES ARE INTRODUCED FOR IMMIGRATION CONTROL REASONS AND WILL BENEFIT GENUINE VISITORS.''
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Hong Kong Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office present their compliments to the Embassy of the Republic of
Bolivia in London and have the honour to pass to the Embassy, at the request of the Hong Kong Government the following information.
The Hong Kong Government have decided that, with effect from 16 November 1991, former People's Republic of China residents holding passports issued by a number of countries will not be eligible to apply for residence, employment,
investment or education in Hong Kong unless they have
resided outside China or Macau for at least two years immediately before their application. These include
passports issued by Bolivia.
The above residential requirement does not apply to persons coming for visits. Holders of Bolivian passports may continue to enter Hong Kong without a visa for genuine
visits. These measures are introduced for immigration control reasons and will benefit genuine visitors.
Hong Kong Department avail themselves of this opportunity to express to the Embassy of Bolivia the assurance of their highest consideration.
HONG KONG DEPARTMENT
14 NOVEMBER 1991
JKHAAH/1
TG
OF
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