TNAG-1745-FCO40-2464-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-by-Lor-1988 — Page 60

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MDHIAN 7009

GIVEN THE OPTION OF RETURNING TO HONG KONG DIRECT. HE SAID THAT

WHEN HONG KONG RESIDENTS EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES AT UK POINTS OF ENTRY, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTACT THEIR FRIENDS/RELATIVES IN THE UK OR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON FOR

ASSISTANCE. HE SAID THE THE PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATION OF VISAS

TO USA AND AUSTRALIA WERE MUCH SIMPLER THAN THAT OF THE UK AND IN

THE CASE OF USA IT DID NOT REQUIRE ANY VISA FEE AT ALL.

12. THE MINISTER OF STATE REPLIED THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF

BRITAIN DISTANCING ITSELF FROM HONG KONG OR HONG KONG RESIDENTS

BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. HE SAID THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE

HAD BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HOME SECRETARY AND HE

HIMSELF WOULD ALSO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM UPON HIS RETURN TO UK WITH MR T RENTON, MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME OFFICE. HE SAID THAT THE TASK AT IMMIGRATION CONTROL WAS NOT UNIQUE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM

AS OTHER COUNTRIES DID OPERATE A SIMILAR SYSTEM OF

IMMIGRATION CONTROLS. HE ADVISED MEMBERS THAT THE CROSSED STAMP,

WHICH WAS A STANDARD INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE, WOULD NOT PREJUDICE THE TRAVELLERS WHEN THEY SOUGHT ENTRY TO UK AGAIN AND CURRENTLY

CONSIDERATION WAS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO THE NEED TO ISSUE REVISED

INSTRUCTIONS ON THE HANDLING OF HONG KONG VISITORS BY UK IMMIGRATION

OFFICERS. HE ADDED THAT THE CASES UNDER COMPLAINT WERE BEING

INVESTIGATED BY AN INDEPENDENT APPEAL AUTHORITY.

13. MR DESMOND LEE YU-TAI SAID THAT THE REFUSAL OF ENTRY WOULD

BECOME A TEST CASE ON THE VALIDITY OF THE BN (O) PASSPORT AND IT WAS

DETRIMENTAL TO THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE IF HOLDERS OF

THESE PASSPORTS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER BRITAIN. THE MINISTER OF STATE SAID THAT WHEN THE BN (O) PASSPORT WAS INTRODUCED, BRITAIN HAD LAUNCHED AN UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT TO SECURE ITS ACCEPTANCE BY OTHER COUNTRIES IF PROBLEMS AROSE, THE UK GOVERNMENT HAD ACTED PROMPTLY TO LIAISE WITH THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED TO MAKE SURE THAT

THEY WERE PROPERLY ADDRESSED.

WILSON

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