TNAG-0332-FCO40-368-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 142

a) circumstances are totally different.

Japan is not faced with the vast

immigration problems left over by the

British Empire;

b) that the facility asked for holders

of British (Hong Kong) passports is

limited only to one weeks visa-free

This is because' business

stay.

relations between Hong Kong and Japan

are so close and the distance involved

is comparatively small. Consequently

Hong Kong business men pay very

frequent and short visits to Japan,

whereas their visits to the United

Kingdom are usually for considerably

longer periods;

c) we wonder if the fears of the Ministry

of Justice about infiltration of

criminal and other elements under visa-

free arrangements might not be exaggerated.

The cases that have been adduced have

all been found to relate to persons

who did not hold British (Hong Kong)

passports at all. Moreover the Hong Kong

Government recognises the interest of

the Japanese Government in this matter

and for that reason agrees to the

presence of a member of the Japanese