TNAG-0988-FCO40-1207-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 91

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Ms RJ M Ritchie

HKGD

RGB Bridge_Esq

Director of Immigration HONG KONG

1.

VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS

In your telegram No 1385 of 8 October 1979, you sought

advice as to whether the arrangements by which certain

European countries admit 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 can be inter-

preted as covering Hong Kong.

3.

I have now looked at the UK's visa abolition agreements

with all Western European countries. You have already faced

difficulties with the Agreements with Austria and the

Federal Republic of Germany. I have found only three other

Agreements which do not extend to Hong Kong, i.e. those

with Spain, Greece and Turkey. The Agreements with the

following countries do cover Hong Kong: Belgium, Denmark,

France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,

Sweden and Switzerland.

4. I hope you may find this information useful in any

further discussions on this subject with Austrian or Germar

officials.