TNAG-1095-FCO40-1345-Visas-for-Chinese-nationals-visiting-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 33

GR 350

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDEN

NTIAL

FM PEKING 230344Z OCT 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 649 OF 23 OCTOBER

AND TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG

HKK 34514

*

SOCT 1981

142

PA

Pls 25110

MIPT

M

J

पत्र

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF CHINESE STATEMENT.

BEGINS

UNDERSTANDING ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHINESE CITIZENS

TRAVELLING VIA HONG KONG FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES

THROUGH CONSULTATIONS, THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN CHINA ON THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE

CHINESE CITIZENS TRAVELLING VIA HONG KONG FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES.

1. THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG WILL GRANT 7 DAYS

STAY IN HONG KONG TO CHINESE CITIZENS TRAVELLING TO HONG KONG IN TRANSIT FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES, PROVIDING SUCH CITIZENS HAVE VALID CHINESE PASSPORTS, ENTRY VISAS FOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION OR LETTERS ISSUED BY COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION AGREEING TO ISSUE VISAS IN HONG KONG AND WILL CONTINUE

THEIR JOURNEYS TO THE COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION. IF THERE ARE JUST REASONS, SUCH AS SECURING VISAS FOR COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION, PURCHASING AIR TICKETS OR VISITING RELATIVES AND FRIENDS, THE DURATION COULD BE EXTENDED TO ONE MONTH AND IF THERE ARE SPECIAL CONDITIONS, THE DURATION OF STAY

COULD BE EXTENDED FOR MORE THAN ONE MONTH.

2. CHINESE CITIZENS SHOULD APPLY TO THE BRITISH EMBASSIES

OR CONSULATES FOR HONG KONG TRANSIT VISAS WHEN THEY TRAVEL

TO CHINA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES BY WAY OF HONG KONG. CHINESE

CITIZENS SHOULD APPLY TO THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN CHINA FOR

HONG KONG TRANSIT VISAS WHEN THEY RETURN FROM INTERIOR OF

CHINA TO THEIR RESIDENT COUNTRIES BY WAY OF HONG KONG,

CONSULTATIONS CONCERNING THE LOCATIONS AT WHICH CHINESE

CITIZENS TRAVELLING FROM MAINLAND CHINA BY WAY OF HONG KONG

FOR PRIVATE PURPOSESSCOULD APPLY FOR VISAS WOULD BE CONTINUED

BETWEEN THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN

AFFAIRS AND THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN CHINA. UNTIL AN AGREE-

MENT IS REACHED THE STATUS QUO WILL BE MAINTAINED TEMPORARILY.

See

CONFIDENTIAL