TNAG-0281-FCO40-317-Visit-of-the-Chancellor-of-the-Duchy-of-Lancaster-to-Hong-Ko-1970 — Page 213

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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CONFIDENTIAL

BACKGROUND NOTE

Faio on

BLUE WHITI

PAPER.

2.9-70

A.

PART I

Exclusion of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom Japan Visa Abolition Agreement of 2 November 1962

The negotiations with the Japanese

Authorities in 1962, which led to the Visa

Abolition Agreement in that year, were

conducted with the prime intention on the part

of both Governments to /ease the restriction on

travel between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Her Majesty's Government did not ask that Hong

Kong be excluded from the Agreement, but the

Japanese made it clear from the outset of the

negotiations (on/an informal and confidential

basis) that they were not keen to extend any

agreement with /the U.K. to include Hong Kong.

However, it was accepted by both Governments

that visa abolition arrangements for HMG's

dependent territories, including Hong Kong,

could be the subject of further negotiations

at a later date if so required.

2. There is no reason to think that the

Japanese will be any less reluctant now to

admit holders of Hong Kong passports without a

visa than they were in 1962, but the Hong Kong

Government has expressed the wish that the

matter should be taken up with them with a

view to obtaining an informal reciprocal

visa waiver arrangement and has specified the

concessions that it would be prepared to offer

to Japanese nationals.

accordingly is)

3. This suggestion is being put to the

/Japanese