TNAG-2021-FCO40-2883-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Hungary-1990 — Page 46

CONFIDENTIAL

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HONG KONG VISA POLICY: VISITORS FROM SOVBLOC AND OTHER COMMUNIST

STATES

1. AT PRESENT WE REQUIRE CITIZENS OF ALL SOVBLOC AND OTHER COMMUNIST STATES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF YUGOSLAVIA, TO OBTAIN VISAS TO VISIT HONG KONG. VISITS ARE RESTRICTED TO A FEW WELL-DEFINED CATEGORIES, INCLUDING BONA FIDE BUSINESSMEN AND DELEGATES TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, EXHIBITIONS ETC. INDIVIDUAL VISA APPLICATIONS ARE ALL CAREFULLY VETTED: THE PROCESSING TIME FROM RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION IN HONG KONG IS APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THIS IS LARGELY BECAUSE THE REFERRALS TO OVERSEAS SECURITY SERVICES, INCLUDING LONDON, TAKE SOME FOUR WEEKS FOR A RESPONSE.

2. WE HAVE COME UNDER MOUNTING PRESSURE FROM LOCAL BUSINESS INTERESTS TO LIBERALISE OUR VISA PROCEDURES, PARTICULARLY FOR EAST EUROPEANS. SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY THE HUNGARIANS, HAVE ALSO BEEN PRESSING FOR LIBERALISATION TO IMPROVE COMMERCIAL AND TRADE RELATIONS. THE MAJOR AREA OF COMPLAINT IS THE TIME WHICH IT TAKES TO PROCESS AND APPROVE A VISA APPLICATION.

3. WE DO NOT AT THIS STAGE WISH TO EXPAND THE CATEGORIES WHO WILL BE PERMITTED TO VISIT HONG KONG. WE ACCEPT THAT THIS MAY HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AT A LATER STAGE ON THE BASIS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES: IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS WE ALREADY HAVE A SEPARATE VISA REGIME FOR YUGOSLAVIA. AT THE MOMENT OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE POLITICAL CHANGES IN THE EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE REDUCED THE INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY THREAT. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW IF THIS IS ALSO YOUR VIEW. IF IT IS NOT, THEN WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY VIEWS OR GUIDANCE YOU CAN GIVE US ON INDIVIDUAL EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

4. BROADLY SPEAKING WE HAVE THREE OPTIONS FOR FUTURE POLICY: TO ISSUE VISAS FOLLOWING A PROPER SECURITY WHICH INCLUDES CHECKS WITH

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