TNAG-0910-FCO40-1120-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 73

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CONFIDENTIAL

PTGLYAM O E

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may have been considered only at a technical level, without taking into account the political factors involved in a reŝusal to change the rules. This certainly seems to us the most likely explanation for the failure of the Germans to show any flexibility at all despite the guarantee of the Hong Kong authorities to take back deportees.

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It may well be that despite Bridge's best efforts, apparently with support from his German colleague, the Federal authorities have not given this question a great deal of thought. They may have simply lumped together British passport holders of Hong Kong with all other non- resident British passport holders. Even so this would on the face of it appear to be a discriminatory act since the list of countries whose citizens may enter the FRG without visas (copy attached) is long. It contains some French overseas dependencies; not to mention a number of countries whose citizens might normally expect to be controlled in Western Europe.

cc:

P J Williamson Esq Hong Kong & General Dept FCO

J S Whitehead

CONFIDENTIAL