side
draw the fire of many of our critics on the liberal
at little cost to ourselves.
I t would also be
interpreted as a vote of confidence in Hong Kong.
7.
I can appreciate that you would not want to
establish a precedent for indefinite entry certificates
that might be
t ak en
up by other Commonwealth countries.
However, I think we could justify applying this only to
Hong Kong on the grounds of Hong Kong's special position.
We agreed in 1982 to extend the validity of visitor "B"
entry certificates from two to four years and for ordinary multiple journey entry certificates from one to two years. In this case, in practical terms, we would be doing little more than doubling the length of visitor "B" certificates. They would be valid for 10 years in BN (O)
passports, and, eventually, until 1997 in BDTC passports.
We could restrict their issue to a limited number of bona
fide businessmen and officials who
who travel
travel regularly from
the Hong Kong to
UK. Since we do not in fact insist such people having entry certificates at all, it is hard to see what we would lose by issuing such certificates
with an extended validity.
8.
There
are
arguments
for
on
therefore in our view strong political
agreeing to EXCO's second proposal
(for
both BDTC and BN (O) passports). I would be grateful if
you could let us know your views
cc: Mr Amy, MVD
Mr Partridge, NTD
Mr Fifoot, Legal Adv Mr Grainger, Legal Adv
in due course.
ever
tuur
Tany
A C Galsworthy Hong Kong Department
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