TNAG-1745-FCO40-2464-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-by-Lor-1988 — Page 116

CONFIDENTIAL

00 YO

MDHOAN 5502

TREATMENT OF BRITISH PASSPORT

HOLDERS AT UK PORTS OF ENTRY

Q :

IS THE USE OF A + MARK STANDARD INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE? ENTRY REFUSAL STAMPS ARE USED BY VERY MANY COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, FOR EXAMPLE THE UNITED STATES AND MOST OF OUR EC PARTNERS, INCLUDING GERMANY, FRANCE, BELGIUM AND HOLLAND.

CONFIDENT THAT THE UK'S PRACTICE IS NOT OUT OF LINE IN THIS

RESPECT.

Q :

WHY IS THE STAMP USED IN CASES WHERE ENTRY HAS BEEN

PERMITTED?

AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER MAY USE THE + MARK IF HE IS NOT SATISFIED THAT A VISITOR'S CLAIMED LENGTH OF STAY OR PURPOSE OF VISIT IS GENUINE. BUT HE HAS DISCRETION NEVERTHELESS TO ALLOW QUOTE TEMPORARY ADMISSION UNQUOTE IF HE CONSIDERS THAT THE

CIRCUMSTANCES JUSTIFY THIS.

Q :

OTHER

-

DOES THE + MARK AFFECT A PASSPORT HOLDER'S ABILITY TO ENTER

COUNTRIES?

CANNOT OF COURSE ANSWER FOR THE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS OF

OTHER COUNTRIES.

the

IN

BUT AS FAR AS BRITISH IMMIGRATION IS CONCERNED, ALL APPLICATIONS TO ENTER THE UK ARE CONSIDERED ON THEIR MERITS, ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD PROCEDURES. THE PRESENCE OF AN + MARK IN THE APPLICANT'S PASSPORT WOULD NOT IN ITSELF PREJUDICE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATION.

Q:

ANY EVIDENCE THAT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AT DOVER OR OTHER POINTS OF ENTRY TAKE A PARTICULARLY HARD LINE AGAINST HONG KONG

PASSPORT HOLDERS?

WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH EVIDENCE. A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. IF IT IS DISCOVERED THAT PROCEDURES HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY ADHERED TO, APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE

TAKEN. IF HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE EVIDENCE OF PREJUDICE ON THE PART OF UK OFFICIALS, THEY SHOULD BRING IT TO OUR NOTICE IMMEDIATELY.

HOWE

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CONFIDENTIAL