TNAG-1421-FCO40-1904-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

The FRG was the only EC country to require visas from Hong Kong

British Dependent Territory Citizens, and we hoped that this requirement could be abolished.

5. Dr Meyer-Landrut said that the Ministry of Interior was

concerned at the implications of any relaxation in the regime for

after 1997. He understood that a new identity card was being

issued, whose validity would be limited until 1997. He hoped it would be possible to abolish the visa regime for this category of people. Mr Eggar said that this was not a new system, but that

those entitled to British Dependent Territory Citizenship would now get a British National (Overseas) Passport. Essentially the same people were entitled to the same document as at present, but that

document would bear a different name. The change would not take

place for 2 years yet.

6.

Dr Meyer-Landrut said that the Ministry of Interior was well

aware of the problem. The Auswaertiges Amt had asked the Ministry of Interior that they should at least issue multiple visas, or visas valid for an extended period. This would constitute a step forward,

but there was no prospect of complete abolition of visa requirements, given the prevalent concern about the excessively liberal asylum regulations. It was only the visa regime which prevented such people from settling permanently in the FRG.

Mr Eggar said that we would appreciate anything which could be

done to alleviate the problem.

7.

Distribution:

PS/Mr Eggar

HKD

WED

Mr Dixon, Research Dept.

MVD

CONFIDENTIAL