TNAG-0170-FCO40-206-British-Trade-Commissioner-1969 — Page 53

Our reference: 40/2

Your reference:

CONFIDENT I AL

BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG 7th Floor, Shell House, Queen's Road, Central, HONG KONG Mail Address: P.O. Box No. 528, Hong Kong Cable Address: "Uktrade Hongkong"

Telephone: 230176

13 June, 1969

50

سیا

Re R. on pare. In

2076

(33)

Dear Bunny,

May I refer to your letter HKK6/548/3 of 25 February to me and to Mallet's letter GVV1/10/4 of 28 April to Collard of the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Colonial Government. Both these letters concern the question of visas or other forms of entry permit for Hong Kong Chinese going to the United Kingdom.

I gave a lunch for Collard the other day and learned from him that there has been a major improvement in the arrangements for processing stateless Chinese who wish to go to the United Kingdom. The improvement is due to the Special Branch in Hong Kong agreeing that they need no longer process each individual case before the visa applica- tion is submitted to the United Kingdom authorities. should cut down the length of time between the first application and the eventual issue of a visa. will be in the order of about 14 days.

This

The improvement

Collard is going on leave to the United Kingdom in September, and I know that he will press the authorities in the United Kingdom to give a further delegation of powers to the Hong Kong authorities. At the present moment for instance he has to refer applications for multiple visas, and for business men who wish to stay any length of time. Collard feels that the Hong Kong Immigration Department is a very efficient organisation and can safely be trusted with such a delegation of powers. I can only say that I agree with his views and very much hope that the authorities in the United Kingdom will enable visas to be issued in Hong Kong to all stateless Chinese applicants within 72 hours of their first application.

I am copying this letter for information to Mallet in Migration and Visa Department.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 23 JUN 1969

нико /548/3 HICKO/568

Rev.

T

33

W. S. Carter, Esq.,

Hong Kong Department.

еля

Michae

(M.P.V. Hannam) Principal Trade Commissioner

Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omis sions in that information and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the standing of any firms, companies, or individuals mentioned.