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TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 431
OF 031515Z SEPTEMBER 1993
INFO PRIORITY ATHENS, BONN, UKREP BRUSSELS, THE HAGUE, LISBON INFO PRIORITY LUXEMBOURG, MADRID, PARIS, ROME, PEKING, HONG KONG
97
HONG KONG TELNO 1409 : SCHENGEN VISA LIST
1.
LENAERTS, SCHENGEN SECRETARIAT, TOLD DHM TODAY THAT SPAIN IS UNDER NO/NO SCHENGEN OBLIGATION TO IMPOSE A VISA REGIME ON HONG
IT HAS AN OBLIGATION, HOWEVER, TO INFORM OTHER SCHENGEN STATES IF IT PROPOSES UNILATERALLY TO DO SO. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT ANY BILATERAL VISA ARRANGEMENTS OTHER SCHENGEN STATES MAY HAVE WITH HONG KONG.
2. ACCORDING TO LENAERTS SPAIN HAS FAILED TO INFORM OTHER SCHENGEN STATES OF ITS INTENTIONS AND THE BENELUX COUNTRIES MAY RAISE THE MATTER AT TODAY'S SCHENGEN VISA GROUP MEETING. IF THE ITEM IS NOT REACHED AT TODAY'S MEETING THEN IT WILL BE TAKEN AT THE NEXT VISA GROUP MEETING IN A WEEK'S TIME.
COMMENT
3. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT SPAIN'S ACTION IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY SCHENGEN DIRECTIVE BUT RATHER A NATIONAL WISH TO TIGHTEN UP VISA- FREE TRAVEL FROM HONG KONG.
GRAY
YYYY
MAIN
42
HKD
MVD
SED
WED
ECD (I)
LEGAL ADVISERS
~~~~
DISTRIBUTION
42
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
MR ALSTON
MR GREENSTOCK
MR JAY
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ECD(1) have copied to Mr. Appleyard.