TNAG-2035-FCO40-2899-Visits-from-countries-other-than-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 39

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INTRODUCTION

CONFIDENTIAL

XCCI(88)68 Copy No.

NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

•

TAIWANESE VISITORS TO CHINA ENTERING THROUGH HONG KONG

ANNEX B

visitors it took

At the meeting of the Council on 16 August 1988, Members asked about

Taiwanese the proportion of

commented that entering China through Hong Kong, nearly one month for Taiwanese to obtain an entry visa for Hong Kong and noted recent press reports which suggested that the Immigration Department was

was looking at ways of reducing this time-scale. Members are invited to note this report which outlines the present situation.

BACKGROUND

2

With the lifting of the embargo by the Taiwan Government on direct travel to Hong Kong and Macau on 28 July 1987 and on travel to China on 14 October 1987, the number of Taiwanese visitors has increased drastically.

3

an

in 1986.

64%

over the re-entry

During the second half of 1987 the Immigration Department received 251,000 applications

251,000 applications for visit permits from Taiwan residents,

increase of corresponding period

for Applications visas (which enable Taiwanese touists to make a side trip elsewhere and return to Hong Kong) totalled

47,455, an This increase of 241% over the corresponding period in 1986. rising trend has continued into 1988: in the first eight months, applications for visit permits increased by 148% and re-entry visas by 63% when compared with the corresponding period in 1987.

4

The unexpectedly large upsurge in these applications resulted in a deterioration of service. The processing time for 7-day visit permits at one stage was prolonged from the standard two weeks to three to four weeks, and that for 3-month visit permits from the standard three weeks to between five and six weeks. The processing time for group

permits has been maintained at three weeks.

CONFIDENTIAL