CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH
Telephone 01-
HKK 340/1
RECEIVED IN REDASIRY NO. 51
16 FEB 1981
BESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
f30.3.
fine 3013
Dr D C Wilson
Political Adviser
Government Secretariat
Lower Albert Road
HONG KONG
Your reference
Our reference
Date
Listí
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS
16 February 1981
see HKK 340/1
PLA
1982
1. GIST of 30 January quotes 'The Daily Oriental News' as reporting that the Immigration Department had already started contacting various Consulates to see if they would change their immigration policies towards British subjects in Hong Kong as a result of the Nationality Bill.
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2. I hope that this is not the case. As has been said before, should there be any suggestion of imposing new visa requirements as a result of the Bill we will take the matter up with the Government concerned immediately. But any approach now would seem premature and might be counter productive. There are already many countries who allow Hong Kong British-passport holders to visit them without visas, We obviously do not wish to disturb these arrangements and to ask the countries concerned now whether they propose any change as a result of the Nationality Bill seems entirely wrong. It might un-necessarily cause them to review their practice. At the moment I suggest that the best plan is to watch carefully how the attitude of foreign governments develops and be ready to react smartly if they look like adopting measures against Hong Kong, This would be in line with the Secretary of State's assurance to Sir S Y Chung and Ozzie Cheung that he would continue to use his good offices on behalf of Hong Kong
3. Obviously we should keep closely in touch on this and we will ensure that our missions have the necessary material with which to answer questions about the effect of the new Law on Citizens of British Dependent Territories.
RD Clift
Hong Kong & General Department
CONFIDENTIAL
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