TNAG-1095-FCO40-1345-Visas-for-Chinese-nationals-visiting-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 19

тор сору

CONFIDENTIAL

GPS 400

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 200755Z NOV 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1040 OF 20 NOVEMBER....

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

478

R+R&

M

ник 343/4 ро

EIVED IN REDISTRY NO. $1 KEUBTRY 20 NOV 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

по

PA

72.12

REGISTRY

Action Teken

น

YOUR TELNO 841% HONG KONG TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHINESE PASSPORT

HOLDERS TRAVELLING VIA HONG KONG FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES. FOLLOWING IS OUR DRAFT TEXT/

BEGINS

149

See (571

1. THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE CONSULAR

DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PRC AND THE

BRITISH EMBASSY IN CHINA ON NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR HOLDERS OF

ORDINARY CHINESE PASSPORTS TRAVELLING VIA HONG KONG FOR PRIVATE

PURPOSES:

53

"ilk 1345/34

(I) THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL NORMALLY GRANT 7 DAYS STAY IN HONG KONG TO CHINESE PASSPORT HOLDERS IN TRANSIT, PROVIDING SUCH TRAVELLERS HAVE VALID CHINESE PASSPORTS, ENTRY VISAS

FOR THE COUNTRY OF DESTINATION OR A LETTER FROM THE AUTHORITIES

OF THE COUNTRY OF DESTINATION AGREEING TO ISSUE THE VISA IN HONG

KONG, AND THE MEANS TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY.

(2) 7 DAYS WILL NOT BE AN AUTOMATIC RIGHT. IT WILL REMAIN WITHIN

THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER'S DISCRETION TO REFUSE ENTRY OR INSIST

ON IMMEDIATE TRANSIT IF HE THINKS EITHER COURSE NECESSARY.

FURTHERMORE, 7 DAYS TRANSIT CANNOT AUTOMATICALLY BE GRANTED TO THOSE WITHOUT THE RIGHT OF RETURN TO CHINA OR ELSEWHERE. (3). THE LENGTH OF STAY IN HONG KONG MAY BE EXTENDED TO ONE MONTH

IF THERE ARE LEGITIMATE REASONS. IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE LENGTH OF STAY MAY BE EXTENDED BEYOND ONE MONTH.

(4) THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WILL ACCEPT BACK AUTOMATICALLY THOSE CHINESE PASSPORT HOLDERS IN TRANSIT WHO HAVE REMAINED IN HONG KONG

BEYOND THEIR AUTHORISED TRANSIT PERIOD. HOWEVER, THOSE WITH THE RIGHT OF RESIDENCE ELSEWHERE WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE AND NOT TO CHINA.

(5) FOR PRACTICAL REASONS, CHINESE PASSPORT HOLDERS TRAVELLING TO HONG KONG FROM THE MAINLAND WHO DO NOT HAVE VISAS FOR HONG KONG WILL BE PROCESSED, AS NOW, AT LO WU.

(6) THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL ALSO APPLY TO CHINESE PASSPORT HOLDERS ARRIVING IN HONG KONG FROM ELSEWHERE IN TRANSIT TO CHINA, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

1982

CONFIDENTIAL

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