TNAG-1405-FCO40-1880-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 36

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Speaking Note.

DANISH VISA REQUIREMENTS.

It was pointed out to the Danish Embassy (and to all other diplomatic

missions) in London, in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Note daťed

11 October 1982 (copy enclosed) that the British Government intended,

with effect from 1 January 1983, to interpret existing international agreements or arrangements mentioning nationality nomenclature in the light of the relevant provisions of the 1981 British Nationality Act and

presumed that other parties would do so. We have no record of the

Danish Government signifying to the contrary and it is therefore

with disappointment that we note that apparently early in 1983 the Danish Government imposed a visa requirement on certain British

nationals who we believe should benefit from the terms of the Visa

Abolition Agreement concluded between the Governments of Denmark and

the United Kingdom in 1947.

Dependent Territories (apart from special cases like Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands) do not impose an entry clearance requirement

on Danish visitors. We consider that this is in the spirit of the

1947 Visa Abolition Agreement. Furthermore we are not aware that

British Dependent Territory Citizens, British Overseas Citizens or British Subjects constitute an immigration problem to the Danish

authorities.

The request we are now making informally does not anticipate that the Danish authorities would grant visa free entry to persons other than genuine visitors. The British Government impose no entry clearance requirement on British Nationals who do not possess Right of Abode who are merely visiting the United Kingdom. We should be grateful if the Danish authorities would consider these points and let us know if they can agree to accept our interpretation of the 1947 Visa Abolition Agreement.