TNAG-1095-FCO40-1345-Visas-for-Chinese-nationals-visiting-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 55

Mr Goodison

Hell 345/6 h @

жин

тий

иду

31

CONFIDENTIAL

нни

345/4

cc FED MVD

INSCEIVM) IN REVY NO. 51

0.3 SER1981

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

HONG KONG TRANSIT VISAS

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

Problem

Plus 319

A

2-2

1. To reply to Peking Telegram Number 529, which recommends we

exchange notes or memoranda with the Chinese MFA on aspects of Hong

Kong transit visas for Chinese passport holders.

Recommendation

See 2. I recommend that Peking be instructed to speak on the lines of

32

the attached draft telegram.

FED, PPD and MVD concur.

B

Background

3. The Chinese put three complaints to the Secretary of State in

Peking in April about the handling of Chinese passport holders

transitting Hong Kong:

(i) they were discriminated against and maltreated;

(ii)

(iii)

they were only allowed a 48-hour transit;

they could not obtain visas from the British Embassy in Peking

but had to do so from the Hong Kong Immigration Department at

Lo Wu on the border with Hong Kong.

The background is set out in Mr Morrice's submission of 21 May and

C) Peking Telegram Number 25 of 2 April to Hong Kong.

4.

The Embassy told the Chinese:

D/G

D/G

E/G

—

—

on (i) that Hong Kong could find no evidence for the complaint;

on (ii) that Hong Kong were prepared to relax the rules for transit

stopover periods;

on (iii) that it was not administratively possible for the Embassy

to issue transit visas for Hong Kong. But Hong Kong would arrange

for visas to be issued on arrival at Kai Tak airport.

CONFIDENTIAL

/5.