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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993
CONFIDENTIAL DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES NOT TO MAKE PUBLIC
DIPLOMATIC
IT IS NOT NORMAL PRACTICE TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS, WHICH IN ANY CASE NORMALLY CONSIST OF ORAL EXCHANGES RATHER THAN WRITTEN MESSAGES.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG YIN-YEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ON THE PUBLICATION OF THE SEVEN LETTERS EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS, MR SZE EXPLAINED THAT BRITISH MINISTERS DECIDED TO DO SO FOLLOWING A SPECIFIC SUGGESTION TO THIS EFFECT FROM THE CHINESE SIDE.
"AT A SPECIAL SITTING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 12 MARCH 1993, THE GOVERNOR MADE CLEAR THE BRITISH SIDE'S POSITION AND EFFORTS IN EXPLORING WHETHER A FIRM AND PRODUCTIVE BASIS COULD BE FOUND ΤΟ HOLD FORMAL TALKS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN HONG KONG," MR SZE ADDED.
0
1994/95
GOVT CONSIDERS RELAXING VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR CHINESE VISITORS
* *
TO
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW CONSIDERING WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE RELAX THE REQUIREMENT FOR VISAS FOR SHORT-TERM
OR BUSINESS VISITORS FROM CHINA.
TOURISTS
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARTIN BARROW IN TODAY'S (WEDNESDAY) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
OF
MR ASPREY SAID: "UNDER THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS, RESIDENTS CHINA HOLDING CHINESE TWO-WAY PERMITS WHO VISIT HONG KONG INDIVIDUALLY OR IN GROUPS, AS TOURISTS OR ON BUSINESS, DO NOT REQUIRE
VISAS.
++
HOWEVER, THOSE TRAVELLING ON CHINESE PASSPORTS DO REQUIRE VISAS, HE ADDED.
WEEKS.
IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, VISAS ARE APPROVED WITHIN ONE ΤΟ TWO
"IF WE RELAX FURTHER VISA REQUIREMENTS, REDUCE VISA PROCESSING TIMES," HE SAID.
THIS SHOULD HELP ΤΟ
MR ASPREY SAID THERE WAS NO LIMIT OR QUOTA ON VISITORS FROM CHINA, WHO CONTRIBUTED TO HONG KONG'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.
HOWEVER, THE HONG KONG AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS AGREED IN 1983 THAT THE NUMBER OF TWO-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS VISITING HONG KONG SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO INCREASE IN A GRADUAL AND CONTROLLED MANNER, HE SAID.
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