TNAG-2161-FCO40-3083-Hong-Kong-visa-abolition-agreements-1990 — Page 139

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CONFIDENTIAL #2

(B) To conclude temporary VAAS valid up to 30 June 1997

covering BN (0)s and ask the Chinese to take up the problem when they/HKSAR Government negotiate VAAS for HKSAR passport holders

16.

The advantages of this option would be

-

(a)

there would be a set of VAAS covering BN (0) s

in place before 1997 on which Chinese/HKSAR

Government could build by way of extending

them beyond 1997 for BN (0)s and expanding

them to cover HKSAR passport holders; and

(b) we would not be committing HKSAR to any

visa-free access for nationals of third

countries.

17.

The disadvantage of this option would be that there might a hiatus between 1997 and the time Chinese/HKSAR Government would be ready to negotiate VAAS

for HKSAR passport holders. BN(0)s might lose the visa-free access during the transition period. Even if that did not happen, for us to conclude VAAS which would

| lapse on 30 June 1997 would cause us confidence problems;

no amount of explanation of what we/China/HKSAR Government

would do later on could be completely reassuring. Again,

this does not appear to be a viable option.

(C) To arrange VAAS for holders of Hong Kong Travel

Documents with the Right of Abode in Hong Kong

18.

If we move away from the perception that visa-free access is to be granted to nationals of certain

countries, a solution to meet the unique situation of Hong

Kong might be found. We could try to secure before 1997 reciprocal VAAS with no termination date covering holders of Hong Kong travel documents with the right of abode in

Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL

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