WFIDENTIAL
PM HONG KONG
TO I ORITY FCO TELNO 2460
OF 080640Z AUGUST 90
YRTELNO 1249:
CONFIDENTIAL FILE COPY
004801
copied to 81209 190
VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THIRD COUNTRIES
1. WE ARE PREPARING A SUBMISSION TO EXEO TO SEEK THEIR ENDORSEMENT OF OPTION (C) BEFORE WE APPROACH THE CHINESE.
2. IN THE MEANTIME, WE INTEND TO CONTINUE TO MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WHEREVER APPROPRIATE WITH THIRD) COUNTRIES FOR VISA- FREE ACCESS FOR HK BDTCS AND BN (0)S. WE ENV: SAGE ARRANGEMENTS SIMILAR TO THOSE WE USED WITH THE THAI (OUI: TELNO 3046 OF 14 AUGUST 1987). WE ARE CONSIDERING MAKING SIMLAR ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING TWO COUNTRIES
(A) SOUTH AFRICA
3. THE CONSUL-GENERAL OF SOUTH AFRICA HAS OFFERED TO WAIVE VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR HK BDTC AND BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS WHO ARE VISITING SOUTH AFRICA FOR UP TO 15 DAYS. THE CONSUL-GENERAI HAS INFORMED US THAT THIS OFFER HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY HIS GOVERNMENT. AT PRESENT VISAS FOR BOTH CATEGORIES OF PASSPORT HOLDERS ARE REQUIRED IRRESPECTIVE OF DURATION OF VISITS.
4. OUR INITIAL REACTION IS TO WELCOME THE OFFER. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UK HAS A VAA WITH SOUTH AFRICA BUT IT DOES NOT COVER HONG KONG. WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED RECIPROCITY EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUL-GENERAL DID NOT RAISE IT. AT PRESENT WE ALLOW VISA-FREE ENTRY FOR SOUTH AFRICANS FOR VISITS FOR UP TO SEVEN DAYS ONLY. THE NUMBER OF SOUTH AFRICANS VISITING HONG KONG HAS BEEN SMALL: 19,885 IN 1988, 18,334 IN 1989 AND 8,717 UP TILL JUNE 1990. SC FAR SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE NOT CAUSED US IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS AND WE ARE PREPARED TO OFFER THE SAME 15 DAYS VISA-FREE ENTRY TO SOUTH AFRICANS.
5. IF YOU AGREE, WE SHALL PROCEED ON THIS BASIS AND CONCLUDE AN ARRANGEMENT WITH SOUTH AFRICA BY AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS IN HONG
KONG.
(B) ARGENTINA
6. WHILST UK HAS SIGNED A VAA WITH ARGENTINA, THIS DOES NO INCLUDE ANY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW SOON.. CASE COULD BE MADE FOR HONG KONG TO BE COVERED IN THE AGREEMENT CUR TELNO 818), BUT WE ARE NOW BEING LOBBIE) 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 CNG, THAT THE UK HAS RECENTLY LIFTED ITS VISA REQUIREMENTS ON THE ARGENTINIANS, AND WE SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT
CARE RIGISTRY
1710
AUG 1910
ARD
LETTER
VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THIRD COUNTRIES A: SFORS (2)
DA APA (G), APA (S), DSB (3), DOFIMM (3), SLO, HSG.
AZ/JC/CH/EJ/DP/NR/MW
FILE NO: SCR 13/2071/47 pt 5
CONFIDENTIAL