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FM MADRID
- 3 SEP 1993
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
DESK OFFICEL
TELNO 408
INDEA
-ün Təkə
asked ISDIO) to
amend distribution to include MUD.
198
016116
MDHIAN 3516
OF 02120OZ SEPTEMBER 93
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE EC POSTS
TOP COPY Q DIST?
MY TELNO 398: INCLUSION OF HONG KONG ON COMMON VISA LIST OF SCHENGEN CONVENTION COUNTRIES.
SUMMARY
SPAIN DECLINES TO RECONSIDER VISA REGIME FOR HONG KONG CITIZENS AND CLAIMS ITS DECISION IS NOT BASED SOLELY ON REQUIREMENTS OF A COMMON VISA LIST.
DETAIL
TOGETHER WITH HMCG I CALLED LAST NIGHT ON CARBAJAL, DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR CONSULAR AFFAIRS AT THE MFA. WE SET OUT OUR CONCERN AT THE APPARENT INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN WHAT HE HAD TOLD US PREVIOUSLY AND THE FACT THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT ON THE CVL. CARBAJAL SAID THAT HONG KONG HAD BEEN ON THE CVL UP TO THE LUXEMBOURG PRESIDENCY WHEN IT WAS REMOVED ALONG WITH OTHER NON-SOVEREIGN TERRITORIES. HE ACCEPTED THAT
VISA LIST BUT THE HONG KONG IS NOT AT PRESENT ON A SCHENGEN COMMON MFA'S NOTE TO US HAD REFERRED TO SCHENGEN REQUIREMENTS. SPAIN'S POSITION WAS DETERMINED BY ARTICLE 5.2 OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH REQUIRED THE IMPOSITION OF VISAS ON THOSE FOR WHOM THERE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN A VISA REQUIREMENT.
HONG KONG HOLDERS OF BDTC AND BNO PASSPORTS HAVE FORMALLY NEEDED VISAS TO ENTER SPAIN FOR MANY YEARS BUT, IN RESPONSE TO OUR APPROACHE S
AT THE TIME, SPAIN HAD UNILATERALLY AGREED IN 1988 TO RELAX THE REQUIREMENT FOR TOURIST AND BUSINESS VISITORS COMING TO THE COUNTRY FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS. THE MECHANISM FOR DOING THIS WAS AN EXECUTIVE DISPENSATION TO FRONTIER GUARDS ALLOWING THEM TO WAIVE VISAS FOR TRAVELLERS MEETING THESE CONDITIONS. UNDER SCHENGEN THIS WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE AND ALL VISITORS REQUIRED VISAS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT. SOME COUNTRIES, I.E. BENELUX, COULD ISSUE VISAS AT THE PORT OF ARRIVAL. SPAIN COULD NOT. THE NEW REQUIREMENT ALSO AFFECTED OTHE
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