TNAG-0988-FCO40-1207-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 87

HKK 34511

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 5

11 FEB 1980

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

No

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

233-3988

ROMR

12/2.

See s

RG B Bridge Esq

Director of Immigration International Building

141 Des Voeux Road Central HONG KONG

7 February 1980

нкк 34512

19707

VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS

1979

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루 1. In your telegram No 1385 of 8 October 1979, you sought advice as to whether the arrangements by which certain European coun- tries admit British Hong Kong passport holders without visas are entirely informal, or are provided for in bilateral agreements either with Hong Kong or with the UK.

2. I did not deal with your enquiry at that time, but have had occasion since then to look at the papers. Having doubts about the reply given to you in FCO telegram No 824, I have consulted our Legal Adviser, who is of the opinion that the UK agreements referred to therein, i.e. with Switzerland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy and Denmark, do in fact allow British Hong Kong passport holders to visit those countries without visas.

3. I have now looked at the UK's visa abolition agreements with all Western European countries. You have already faced diffi- culties with the Agreement with Austria and with the Federal Republic of Germany (with whom we have no formal visa abolition agreement). I have found only four other Agreements which do not extend to Hong Kong, i.e. those with Spain, Finland, Greece and Turkey (although, as you will have learned from Mr Shepherd's letter GVM 349/371/1 of 30 January, British Hong Kong passport holders can visit Spain without visas under the terms of a separate exchange of notes). The Agreements with the following countries do allow British Hong Kong passport holders to visit them without visas: Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland.

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