TNAG-2161-FCO40-3083-Hong-Kong-visa-abolition-agreements-1990 — Page 164

CONFIDENTIAL

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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 485

OF 02160OZ MARCH 90

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INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG PEKING, BUENOS AIRES

023032

MDLOAN 7334

10

ABOLITION OF VISA AGREEMENT: ARGENTINA

1.

AS YOU WILL BE AWARE, HMG HAVE RECENTLY RESUMED DIPLOMATIC LINKS WITH ARGENTINA. WE ARE NOW URGENTLY WORKING TO ABOLISH THE NEED FOR VISAS FOR ENTRY/TRAVEL BETWEEN THE TWO

COUNTRIES.

2. WE CONSIDER THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY TO ACHIEVE VISA ABOLITION IS TO REACTIVATE. SUITABLY UPDATED WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE OLD AGREEMENT OF 1967. WE ARE FAXING A COPY TO WEI (SECURITY BRANCH). THIS DOES NOT/NOT INCLUDE ANY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. 3. WE ARE KEEN TO PROCEED ON THIS BASIS BECAUSE WE WISH TO MOVE QUICKLY. BY USING THE OLD AGREEMENT THE POTENTIAL FOR HAGGLING OVER NEW CLAUSES ETC WILL BE REDUCED. WE ALSO WANT TO KEEP OUT OF ANY CONTROVERSY.

THERE IS CLEARLY A PARTICULAR SENSITIVITY ABOUT THE

FALKLAND ISLANDS AND WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IF WE INTRODUCE DTS INTO THE AGREEMENT, THIS MAY LEAD TO ARGUMENTS AND PROBLEMS OVER THE FALKLAND ISLANDERS AND THEIR TRAVEL.

4.

WE ARE ADVISING YOU OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE JOINTLY ABLE TO STOP ANY HARES RUNNING ABOUT LACK OF ACCEPTANCE OF BNO PASSPORTS ETC. IN PUBLICITY WE WILL ENSURE THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE AGREEMENT APPLIES ONLY TO THE UK AND CHANNEL ISLANDS AND REACTIVATES THE 1967 AGREEMENT.

5. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER YOU WOULD WISH TO HAVE THE AGREEMENT EXTENDED IN DUE COURSE TO HONG KONG, IF THE POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES MADE THIS POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

HURD

YYYY

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