56
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988
VISA FEES COVER COST OF SERVICE
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, THE
IN HONG KONG, AS IN OTHER BRITISH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES ISSUE ENTRY CLEARANCES ONBEHALF OF THE BRITISH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED GOVERNMENT AND CHARGE THE SAME FEES KINGDOM LEGISLATION.
THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, STATED HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THIS IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"THE FEES COLLECTED
BY THE
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ARE NOT OF THE REMITTED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM BUT ARE USED TO COVER THE COST SERVICE IN HONG KONG, MR BARNES EXPLAINED.
I
++
WERE TO BE
"IF THE FEES ON APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY CLEARANCES WAIVED, THE COST OF THE SERVICE WOULD FALL ON THE HONG KONG TAXPAYER.'
CONCERNING
"
THE CHARGING OF FEES FOR VISAS AND ENTRY ΤΟ THE UNITED CERTIFICATES (COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS ENTRY CLEARANCES) KINGDOM, MR BARNES SAID IT WAS A MATTER OF LAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
AND IN SUCH FEES WERE LEVIED UNDER THE CONSULAR FEES ACT 1980
AMENDED FROM TIME ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSULAR FEES ORDER 1987 AND TO TIME BY ORDER IN COUNCIL.
CONCERNING THE AMOUNT OF THE FEES, MR
REGARDLESS OF WORLDWIDE
BARNES SAID THAT WHERE THE APPLICATIONS
THEY WERE
WERE UNIFORM SUBMITTED.
THEY WERE STERLING BASED AND THE EQUIVALENTS THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL CURRENCY.
WERE CHARGED IN
ΤΟ HAVING BY THE EARLY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM'S
THEY WERE SET AT LEVELS WITH A VIEW 1990'S ARRANGEMENTS WHEREBY THE FULL COSTS ENTRY CLEARANCE OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE WERE RECOVERED.
"IT IS RELEVANT TO NOTE THAT A VISA TO VISIT, STUDY OR WORK
KINGDOM THE UNITED
IS MANDATORY FOR A HOLDER CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY OR OTHER NON-NATIONAL BARNES ADDED.
IN
KONG OF HONG TRAVEL DOCUMENTS," MR
OR
TRANSITTING
THE
TO A HOLDER OF A
"BUT AN ENTRY CERTIFICATE FOR VISITING UNITED KINGDOM IS AN OPTIONAL FACILITY AVAILABLE HONG KONG PASSPORT WHO CHOOSES TO APPLY OR WHO MAY BE IN HIS ADMISSIBILITY TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.
DOUBT
ABOUT
"THE OPTION IS WELL PUBLICISED AND MADE
KNOWN TO
ALL
LIKELY
APPLICANTS."
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