CONFIDENTIAL
002255
MDLIAN 4046
LONDON (AS NOW): TO ISSUE VISAS AFTER ONLY A RUDIMENTARY LOCAL SECURITY CHECK: OR TO ALLOW VISA FREE VISITS FOR A LIMITED PERIOD. IF WE WERE TO MOVE TO THE LAST OPTION IN THE CASE OF ANY PARTICULAR COUNTRY WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY WISH THE ARRANGEMENT TO BE RECIPROCAL. WE SHALL WISH TO GIVE FURTHER THOUGHT HERE TO THESE THREE OPTIONS, BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF POSTS.
5. MEANWHILE WE ARE KEEN TO SPEED UP THE TIME NOW TAKEN TO PROCESS AND APPROVE VISAS. BY STREAMLINING THE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES UNDERTAKEN BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, WE CAN REDUCE HANDLING TIME LOCALLY TO TWO WEEKS (10 WORKING DAYS). WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO COMPLETE THE SECURITY CHECK ALSO WITHIN THIS TIMESCALE. MOST OF THE TIME TAKEN TO ISSUE THE VISAS CONSISTS OF WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO OUR REQUESTS ON THE SECURITY SIDE. CAN THE CHECKS IN LONDON BE COMPLETED IN A TIME WHICH WOULD ENABLE SPECIAL BRANCH HERE TO RESPOND TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WITHIN 5 WORKING DAYS ? IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE GENERALLY, COULD THIS BE DONE FOR NATIONALS OF EAST GERMANY, HUNGARY, POLAND, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, BULGARIA AND ROMANIA ONLY ? SHOULD THIS BE POSSIBLE WE COULD INSTITUTE A RAPID VISA ISSUING SYSTEM FOR THESE COUNTRIES BUT STILL RETAIN A SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER VISA PROCESSING TIME FOR NATIONALS OF THE SOVIET UNION, NORTH KOREA, VIETNAM, ALBANIA, AFGHANISTAN, CUBA, LAOS, CAMBODIA, MONGOLIA AND SOUTH YEMEN. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THIS POINT ALSO.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
79
.HK AGREEMENT NATIONALITY
LIMITED
HKD
MVD
EED
HD/FED
HD /NTD
HD/CONSULAR D
NEWS D
ADDITIONAL
DISTRIBUTION
90
00
PUSD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
MR BLATHERWICK
MISS SPENCER
11
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
H.K. AGREEMENT
NATIONALITY,
N~~~
J
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.