Mr Tansley, SEAD
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15
VIETNAM: VISA REGIME
Would you please refer to your minute of 2 July to Mr Stephenson.
1.
11
2.
I contacted the Immigration Department of Hong Kong about the time it takes to process visa applications from Vietnamese officials travelling to Hong Kong.
They replied that since the first of February they have liberalised their policy on Vietnam and that they now allow Vietnamese nationals to come to Hong Kong for social as well as business visits. For visits of not more than 7 days, Visa Posts may issue single/double journey visas 7 working days after referral, unless instructions are received from Hong Kong to act otherwise. For visits exceeding 7 days and for applications other than visits, posts require authority from Hong Kong to issue the visas. The processing time for such applications is normally 2-4 weeks because of the need to conduct the necessary security checks. This year the number of applications for 7 day visit visas has increased steadily from 26 in February to 102 in June, and a total of 342 such visas have been issued. In addition Hong Kong Immigration Department have gone out of their way to approve a further 37 urgent applications in under the standard time of 7 working days.
3.
Hong Kong Immigration Department therefore feel that they have been quite liberal with the Vietnamese and that the latter have no cause to complain. Nevertheless they say they are now reviewing their visa regime jointly with other government departments, and that they will let us know if they are able to come up with something new.
Woodras
CODE 18-77
J Woodrow
Hong Kong Department
WH 312 270 2656
13 July 1992
cc: Mr Stephenson, MVD
JH4ABT SLM
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13/7.