TNAG-1281-FCO40-1632-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 201

GPS 290

CONFIDENMAL

FM HONG KONG 300656Z MAR 33

TO PRIORITY PEKING

CONFIDEN

TELEGRAM NUMBER 158 OF 30 MARCH

INFO PRIORITY F C O

HKK 349/1

OARD AMPY NO. 31 30 MAR 1983

TOP COPY

PEKING TELNO 238: CHINESE VISA OFFICE"

: 30/3

CH 13/4

(4)

No

1. EXCO HAVE NOW APPROVED THE LINE IN PARA 3 OF MY TELNO 314, WITH

ONE MODIFICATION. MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED THAT THE CONCESSION ON

PASSPORTS SHOULD NOT SE ABUSED AND THEIR AGREEMENT TO THIS WAS

SUBJECT TO A REQUIREMENT THAT THE VISA OFFICE SHOULD REPORT TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT THE DETAILS OF ALL PASSPORTS ISSUED. TO

MEET THIS POINT, THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE SHOULD BE ADDED TO

PARA 3(A) OF MY TUR : ''FULL DETAILS OF ALL REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS ISSUED IN THIS WAY SHOULD BE REPORTED BY THE VISA OFFICE TO THE

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IN HONG KONG ON A MONTHLY BASIS''.

2. AS REGARDS THE POINT IN PARA 2 OF YOUR TUR, THE VISA OFFICE ARE

IN THEORY LIABLE TO TAXES AS FOLLOWS:

(A) SALARIES TAX ON THEIR STAFF.

(B) RATES ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THEM.

(C) PROPERTY TAX ON THE REVENUE FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED BY THEM

AND LET TO THIRD PARTIES.

(D) FIRST REGISTRATION TAX ON ALL VEHICLES BOUGHT NEW OR IMPORTED

INTO HONG KONG.

(E) ANNUAL VEHICLE LICENCE FEE.

(F) TAXES ON ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FUEL, (THE ONLY COMMODITIES

WHICH ARE TAXED IN HONG KONG).

EXEMPTION FROM (A) HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE

ACTION. (B) AND (C) DO NOT APPLY BECAUSE THE VISA OFFICE AND STAFF

ARE ALL AT PRESENT HOUSED WITHIN THE NCNA BUILDING. BUT WE HAVE

ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT THEY COULD BE GRANTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE

ACTION. THE ONLY PRACTICAL EFFECT OF LEGISLATION WOULD, THEREFORE,

BE TO GRANT EXEMPTION FROM TAXES (D), (E) AND (F). VEHICLE TAXES

ARE NOW HEAVY IN HONG KONG: TAXES ON FUEL AND TOBACCO ARE NOT

PARTICULARLY HEAVY, BUT THEY WERE RAISED IN THE RECENT BUDGET.

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THAT THE TAX BURDEN IS

NEGLIGIBLE, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT ONEROUS AND THE EFFECTS ARE

FINANCIAL NOT OPERATIONAL.

HKCK 34513 €

3. ON TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PRC PASSPORT HOLDERS, WE FULLY AGREE WITH THE ARGUMENTS IN PEKING TELNO 272. WE SHARE THE

AMBASSADOR'S HOPE THAT A DECISION CAN BE TAKEN IN LONDON IN TIME

FOR A RESPONSE TO BE GIVEN TO THE CHINESE ON BOTH QUESTIONS

IMMEDIATELY AFTER EASTER.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HRGD (4)

FED

NTD

ред

CONS D

MR DONALD

CONFIDEN MAL

THIS TELIORAM WAS NOT

ADVANCED

9