TNAG-0321-FCO40-357-Effect-of-1971-UK-Immigration-Bill-on-entry-of-Chinese-from--1971 — Page 12

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Sir L Monson

HONG KONG ASSOCIATION LUNCH 22 SEPTEMBER

1.

I have confirmed from Mr Bush that tomorrow's lunch will be at the Great Eastern Hotel at 12.45 pm for 1 o'clock.

2. Mr Michael Wright told me today that it was just possible that 2 particular points might come up during the general discussio after lunch - immigration from Hong Kong into the UK and arrangements for the issue of visas for Hong Kong to residents of Taiwan in the event of HM Consulate in Taiwan being closed.

IMMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG

If

3. A note by Migration and Visa Department is attached. this question comes up at all the point made by MVD in paragraph 5 of their note will, I fear, be the main point to which our attention will be drawn. In view of what MVD say we shall just have to fluff the issue.

VISAS TO ENABLE RESIDENTS OF TAIWAN TO VISIT HONG KONG

4. Mr Wright told us that CPA have a profitable business carrying residents of Taiwan on short visits to Hong Kong and taking them home again. If our Consulate in Taiwan closes (you will remember this is one of the conditions the Chinese have laid down in return for their acceptance of our proposal that there should be an exchange of Ambassadors) CPA fear that much of this traffic will be lost to them. Butterfield and Swire are agents for both BOAC and CPA. Mr John Swire will be at lunch tomorrow.

5.

Hong Kong have proposed that the Hong Kong Immigration Department should supply visa application forms to Butterfield and Swire for passengers in CPA and other airlines with pick-up rights in Taiwan. Carriers would issue the forms on request from their offices in Taipei. Applicants would return the completed visa forms to the carrier's office with 3 photographs. The carrier would then deliver them to Immigration Department in Hong Kong. When the application was approved, the Immigration Department would issue an entry permit in lieu of a visa at a fee of HK $30. The carrier would collect the permits, pay the fees and pass the permits back to the applicants in Taiwan. The carriers would make their own arrangements to recover the fee. For applicants other than Taiwanese nationals and Commonwealth citizens similar arrangements would apply except that a "letter of approval" would be issued instead of an entry permit. The production of this letter in Hong Kong would enable a visa to be issued and the appropriate fee collected.

CONFIDENTIAL

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