TNAG-0281-FCO40-317-Visit-of-the-Chancellor-of-the-Duchy-of-Lancaster-to-Hong-Ko-1970 — Page 190

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CONFIDENTIAL

B.

4.

PART II

Cerman Visa requirements for Hong Kong Passport Holders

Because citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who

belong to British dependent territories are generally subject

to U.K. immigration controls, since the passing of the

Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1968, they can no longer

be automatically sent to the U.K. by the German authorities

if any problem arises over their admission to or stay in

Germany. In view of this, the present policy of the Federal

German authorities is that all persons belonging to British dependent territories and travelling on passports issued in

those territories are subject to the German visa requirement.

This is because the Germans consider that they will be con-

fronted with fewer problems if they exercise control over

Colonial belongers through their normal visa system.

This

is a matter which affects all British dependent territories

and not only Hong Kong.

5.

Despite their attitude as described above, the Germans

welcome any gesture by our overseas dependent territories as

regards a unilateral concession of visa waiver in respect of

German nationals wishing to visit such territories.

The

Hong Kong authorities have, in fact, allowed such a concession

to enable German nationals to visit the Colony for a stay

of up to one month and they would like the Germans to afford

reciprocal facilities for Hong Kong passport holders visiting

the Federal German Republic.

6. It is understood that the Hong Kong authorities are

taking up the matter in an informal way with the German Consul-General in Hong Kong to ascertain whether it would

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CONFIDENTIAL