XN000022-1988-07-20 — Page 58

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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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