RESTRICTED
FM PRAGUE
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 311
OF 2613OOZ APRIL 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
HKD 345/1
345
"ECEIVED IN REGIS
INFO ROUTINE BUDAPEST, WARSAW, PEKING
13 MAY 1991
CDR COPY
VSK OFFICES
DP
Q DIST ?
OUR TELNO 157: VISA POLICY: HONG KONG/ CZECHOSLOVAKIA
"
,
45
144641
MDHIAN 3975
1 MIFT CONTAINS THE TEXT OF A NOTE FROM THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERNMENT DATED 23 APRIL 1991 IN REPLY TO OUR NOTE OF 11 MARCH PUTTING FORWARD THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS FOR A VISA
WAIVER AGREEMENT.
2. OUR IMPRESSION HERE IS THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THEIR REFUSAL TO AGREE TO THE ABOLITION OF VISAS FOR A VISIT OF LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS, IS THAT THE CZECHOSLOVAK AUTHORITIES FEAR THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF HONG KONG CHINESE WILL USE THE 7 DAY VISIT WAIVER TO GAIN PERMANENT ENTRY INTO CZECHOSLOVAKIA. THE OPPORTUNITY OFFERED BY THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG ON 29 APRIL WILL NO DOUBT BE USED TO TRY TO DEAL
WITH THEIR CONCERNS ON THIS POINT.
LAING
YYYY
MAIN
24
LIMITED
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
24
MVD
MR BURNS
1
PAGE RESTRICTED