TNAG-1029-FCO40-1279-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 71

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CONFIDENTIAL APP 102

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TRANSIT VISAS FOR CHINESE PASSPORT-HOLDERS THROUGH HONG KONG

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Sir E Youde discussed this with officials in Hong Kong during the Secretary of State's visit. Hong Kong argued that it would be difficult to increase the normal transit visa period from 48 hours to one week because it would allow more time for people in transit to disappear into society and thus remain in the Territory. Sir E Youde had argued against this, maintaining that in practice there would not be much difference between 2 and 7 days.

2.

Hong Kong have undertaken to look at this question again in order to see whether an initial 7-day transit visa might be possible. They will also consider the question of how to process visas for applicants from North China who are at present greatly inconvenienced by having to go to the border at Shunchun without being sure that they will get admission to Hong Kong. Hong Kong will consider the proposal that the China Travel Service in Hong Kong should act as an agent, presumably taking the responsibility for the delivery of applications to the Hong Kong authorities and return of the documents to the applicants.

3.

Sir E Youde suggested that Hong Kong might like to consider whether any concessions on these points might be traded against stronger Chinese action against legal immigrants to Hong Kong.

13 April 1981

CODE 18-77

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Hong Kong & General Department

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CONFIDENTIAL