TNAG-1405-FCO40-1880-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 42

G.F. 326

CONFIDENTIAL # 3

2

6.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Comments

7.

I made the following points :

There is no justification for using 1997 as a pretext for visa requirements.

The visa requirement is seen as a major irritant by HK businessmen in particular.

The problem of asylum seekers, whether genuine or not, should be kept quite separate from the admission of HK BDTC businessmen or tourists, who had every incentive to return to Hong Kong.

As for attempts by HK people settled in Sweden to deceive the authorities, we would be pleased to conduct record checks on any doubtful cases that the Swedes could not resolve themselves.

Mrs Granath seemed sympathetic. She took the point that the present state of affairs which benefits the fraudulant asylum seeker rather than the bona-fide traveller was unsatisfactory. She appeared to be satisfied that 1997 was no longer a valid reason for maintaining a visa control for visitors.

8.

We will return to the charge on 14th.

cc

PA S (GD)

AJC/bt

A

Cartu

A J Carter

Director of Immigration

CONFIDENTIAL ##