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9 SCHENGEN AGREEMENT COUNTRIES. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION OF THIS.
6. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UK, IRELAND AND DENMARK OF THE EC COUNTRIES ARE NOT PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT, AT LEAST AT PRESENT. HOWEVER, THERE IS BOUND TO BE INTENSE INTEREST HERE ON THE FUTURE ABILITY OF BDTC/BN (0)S TO ENTER UK VISA-FREE AND WE SHOULD LIKE TO HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THERE IS NO INTENTION TO IMPOSE A VISA REQUIREMENT ON THEM.
WE WOULD ALSO URGE A MAJOR LOBBYING EFFORT TO TRY TO REVERSE THIS NEW VISA REQUIREMENT, AND TO TRY TO EQUALISE TREATMENT OF HKBDTCS/BN (0)S IN EUROPE UPWARDS INSTEAD OF DOWNWARDS. ANY NEW VISA REQUIREMENT WILL BE VERY POLITICALLY SENSITIVE HERE, IN THE CONTEXT OF 1997 AND OTHER CONTINUING CONCERNS OVER NATIONALITY. THERE WILL BE WORRIES ABOUT A POSSIBLE KNOCK-ON EFFECT LEADING TO THE IMPOSITION OF A VISA REQUIREMENT BY OTHER COUNTRIES E.G. CANADA, SINGAPORE, WHICH DO NOT AT PRESENT REQUIRE VISAS FOR BDTCS/BN(O)S. IT WILL HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE PHASED BN(0) REGISTRATION PROGRAMME WE ARE JUST STARTING TO PUBLICISE AND PUSH, BECAUSE IT WILL SUGGEST THAT VISA-FREE PRIVILEGES FOR BN (0)S ARE STARTING TO FALL AWAY.
8.
GRATEFUL FOR A REPLY IF POSSIBLE BY 23010OZ.
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LEGAL ADVISERS//E WILMSHURST
MR ALSTON
MR HUM
MR GREENSTOCK
MR JAY
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