RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 418
OF 160746Z MARCH 93
RESTRICTED
tel out,
Mr Woodrow
17/3 (17
063444
D.BJ. MDLIAN 0687
pl pursue 'x' na ADLE pleask for x (Indian Ocean Section). Port Lours may already be taking TOP COPY action though. Q DIST?
JM. 16/3
INFO ROUTINE PORT LOUIS, VIENNA
10
X
YOUR TELNO 226: VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH NATIONAL COVERSEAS) PASSPORT HOLDERS VISITING AUSTRIA AND MAURITIUS
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TUR. WE AGREE THAT WE CANNOT AFFECT THE VISA-FREE ACCESS TO AUSTRIA NOW ENJOYED BY OTHER BDTCS AND ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE OPTION OF OPENING UP BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS. WE WILL LET YOU HAVE OUR VIEWS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
2. ON MAURITIUS, WE ARE A LITTLE PUZZLED. WE RECEIVED, AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, A LETTER FROM THE HONORARY CONSUL OF MAURITIUS, INFORMING US THAT THE MAURITIAN GOVERNMENT HAD, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, DISPENSED WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR BN (0)S TO HAVE A VISA PRIOR TO DEPARTURE BUT, INSTEAD, WOULD GRANT VISAS ON ARRIVAL IN MAURITIUS PROVIDED THAT A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS WERE SATISFIED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AT VARIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7 OF YOUR TUR, WHICH REPORTS A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT CONCESSION. WE HAVE SENT A HOLDING REPLY TO THE MAURITIAN HONORARY CONSUL, EXPRESSING OUR INITIAL DISAPPOINTMENT.
3. WE ARE NOW FAXING THIS CORRESPONDENCE TO YOU.
COMMENT
4. THE HONORARY CONSUL'S ADVICE IS NOT A CONCESSION. THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISAS ON ARRIVAL HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A FEW MONTHS, SO THEIR INTRODUCTION CANNOT BE RELATED TO OUR REQUEST. YOUR PARAGRAPH 7, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS WHAT WE WANT.
5. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CLARIFY THE MAURITIAN GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. IF YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT, THEN WE DO NOT INTEND TO PURSUE THE MATTER WITH THE HONORARY CONSUL.
PATTEN
YYYY
RF
PAGE RESTRICTED
INC
HKCD-34671345/3
2 2 MAR 1993