See
11/8.
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Reference..
MKD 345/3
RECEIVED
1 1 AUG 1993
(62)
visa.NAT.JAB
CODE 18-77
Mr Woodrow Mr Mortis 198
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
Actrees Teleg
(67)
FCO TELNO 196: VISA FREE ACCESS TO EUROPE FOR HONG KONG BDTCS AND BN (0)S
Schengen
1. Please see Mr Lewty's letter of 4 August to the Consulate General in Paris and Miss Brooks' minute to me of 4 August.
2.
You will note from Mr Lewty's letter and the accompanying record prepared by Mr Sindon of a call by M. Terral (who has responsiblity within the Quai d'Orsay for matters relating to Schengen) that:
3.
i)
ii)
iii)
(66)
M.Terral considers that Schengen countries will not be ready for implementation of the Convention by 1 December. He believes that a further six months are required before they will be ready. But he assesses that the French will come under strong political pressure at the Schengen Ministerial meeting in October to implement Schengen notwithstanding.
M. Terral was generally sympathetic to Mr Lewty's presentation about the problems caused for Hong Kong by inclusion on the Schengen Common Visa List. But he held out no hope that France would reconsider its own position.
M. Terral has asked for further briefing on the problem. Mr Lewty has commissioned from Paris a paper to be handed over on the basis of FCO telno 196
(lobbying instructions for Posts in Schengen member states which now allow visa-free access to Hong Kong BTDCS and BN (0)s.)
On (iii), I spoke to the Consulate-General in Paris on 9 August. Miss Cowley (Consul) was unsighted but will liaise with Chancery. I have offered assistance should they feel they need any information additional to that in TUR. I have also asked for sight of the papers they intend to hand over before they take that action. Miss Cowley will consider with Chancery how best to pursue the instructions given that M. Terral himself is now on leave for one month.
4.
On (i) and (ii), although the French seem unlikely to shift ground, we can draw some comfort from a non-antagonistic French attitude, the possibility that the coming into force of the Convention will be delayed and M. Terral's confirmation that Schengen countries have not at any stage identified Hong Kong as posing a particular problem. (Grateful to know whether MVD and ECD(I) share this view).
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