RESTRICTED
100626
MDLOAN 9245
-
BERMUDA HAS DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE BILATERAL VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS, SO THIS IS A MATTER FOR THE BERMUDIANS:
AMONG THE UK'S CARIBBEAN/ATLANTIC DTS, BERMUDA IS THE WEALTHIEST, AND HAS MUCH THE CLOSEST POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TIES WITH WESTERN EUROPE. SHE IS KEEN TO STRENGTHEN THESE TIES STILL FURTHER. THE VOLUME OF BERMUDA TRAVEL TO WESTERN EUROPE IS LIKELY TO INCREASE DURING THE 1990S. HOPE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE BERMUDIAN REPRESENTATIVES A SYMPATHETIC HEARING. BELIEVE THERE IS A STRONG CASE FOR VISA ABOLITION.
APART FROM THE UK, FIVE EC MEMBER STATES (LISTED ABOVE) HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO VISA-FREE ENTRY FOR BERMUDA BDTCS:
BERMUDIANS HAVE AN EXCELLENT RECORD IN RETURNING HOME. BERMUDA HAS A LABOUR SHORTAGE AND OVER-EMPLOYMENT AND ENJOYS ONE OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LIVING PER CAPITA IN THE WORLD.
IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT BERMUDIANS WOULD SEEK TO OVERSTAY IN EC COUNTRIES. ON THE CONTRARY, BERMUDA IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM OTHER NATIONALS WHO WISH TO SETTLE IN BERMUDA AND ACQUIRE BERMUDIAN STATUS.
WE WOULD WELCOME GENERAL RECOGNITION BY EC MEMBER STATES IN THE CONTEXT OF VISA HARMONISATION THAT BERMUDIANS SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO VISA REQUIREMENTS.
4. FOR PARIS. IN VIEW OF FRENCH VISA POLICY, WE RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT OF THE FRENCH ABOLISHING VISAS FOR BERMUDA. NEVERTHELESS, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD GIVE WHATEVER SUPPORT TO THE BERMUDIANS YOU THINK LIKELY TO BE HELPFUL.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
WIAD
ECD (I)
HKD
MVD
WED
~~~~
50
DISTRIBUTION
50
SED
PS/MR SAINSBURY
MR BEAMISH
MISS SPENCER
PAGE
2
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.