Reference: hkvisa.NAT.
RESTRICTED
HIUD 345/3
345/3
From:
Deborah Barnes Jones
Date: 21 July 1993
CC
Mr Lewty, MVD
Mr Sullivan, NTCD Mr Arthur, ECDI
Mr Madden, SED
38
A
217
Mr Hom
Mr Morris
PS/Mr Goodlad
HONG KONG:
As
Anuth यार
INTRODUCTION OF RESTRICTIVE VISA PRACTICES BY EC
MEMBER STATES
PROBLEM
1. Visa free access to Spain for Hong Kong BDTCs and BN (O)s will stop from 1 October. The Spanish want to announce the new arrangements immediately. We and Hong Kong consider that this news will damage the introduction
-
of the phased programme for registration of BN (0)s.
also concerned that the Spanish move may be the forerunner of action by other EC member states to introduce restrictive visa regimes for Hong Kong. What to do?
RECOMMENDATION
2.
I
That we instruct Madrid to lobby the Spanish to agree to postpone announcing the new measures for another month. submit a telegram. I also recommend that we consider with other departments the extent of the problem threatening visa- free travel of Hong Kong residents and what measures we can take to promote Hong Kong interests. MVD and ECD (I) agree.
BACKGROUND
3. The Spanish have informed us in a note verbale that they have repealed the special arrangements agreed in 1987 for visa free travel to Spain by BDTCS and BN (0) s. Visas will be needed from 1 October. We were anticipating problems for Hong Kong in securing the extension of visa abolition agreements now in force beyond 1997; the problem is coming to a head rather earlier. The Spanish move has dismayed Hong Kong (Hong Kong telno 1189) who are also concerned about the implications for visa free travel elsewherein Europe.
4.
As far as the Spanish decision is concerned, there is probably nothing we can do to change it. But the timing could hardly be worse. The planned announcement follows on the heels of Parliamentary approval for the phased registration programme for BN (0)s. The successful launch of the programme is an important confidence building measure in Hong Kong. News, coinciding with initial publicity for the programme, that Spain is withdrawing visa free travel will undermine confidence and prompt speculation that visa free privileges for BN (0)s are starting to fall away. It is worth trying to persuade the Spanish to delay the announcement to