TNAG-2161-FCO40-3083-Hong-Kong-visa-abolition-agreements-1990 — Page 77

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22 AUG 1998

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ARGENTINA/HONG KONG VISA ABOLITION ARRANGEMENT

1.

AS YOU KNOW, IN FEBRUARY THE UK AND ARGENTINA DECIDED TO ABOLISH THE VISA REQUIREMENT FOR NATIONALS OF EACH COUNTRY VISITING THE OTHER. EFFECT WAS GIVEN TO THIS BY REINSTATING THE UK'S 1967 VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT WITH ARGENTINA WHICH HAD BEEN SUSPENDED SINCE 1982. THE REVISED AGREEMENT ONLY COVERS BRITISH CITIZENS AND THOSE BDTCS, BN (0)S, BOCS AND BBPS WHO ARE ENTITLED TO READMISSION TO THE UK. CONVERSELY IT ALLOWS ARGENTINIANS VISA-FREE ADMISSION ONLY TO THE UK AND ISLANDS.

2. HONG KONG ARE CONSIDERING HOW, IN THE LONGER TERM, THEY WANT TO HANDLE VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES GIVEN THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY INTEND TO CONTINUE TO MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WHERE APPROPRIATE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES FOR VISA-FREE ACCESS FOR HONG KONG BDTCS AND BN (0)S. ARGENTINA IS ONE OF THEIR TARGET COUNTRIES BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING LOBBIED BY THEIR TOURIST INDUSTRY WHO ARGUE THAT SOUTH AMERICA IS BECOMING A NEW SOURCE

OF VISITORS TO HONG KONG.

3. AT PRESENT HONG KONG REQUIRE VISAS FROM ALL ARGENTINIAN VISITORS: REFERRED VISAS FOR SOME SENSITIVE GROUPS LIKE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND UN-REFERRED VISAS FOR THE OTHERS. THE NUMBER OF ARGENTINIANS VISITING HONG KONG HAS BEEN SMALL: 1,715 IN 1988, 1,543 IN 1989 AND 811 UP TILL MAY IN 1990. SO FAR, ARGENTINIANS HAVE NOT CAUSED IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS AND HONG KONG ARE PREPARED TO WAIVE VISA REQUIREMENTS FROM ALL ARGENTINIANS FOR VISITS UP TO ONE MONTH. THIS WOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE SAME ARRANGEMENT AS BEFORE THE FALKLANDS WAR.

4.

HONG KONG WOULD, HOWEVER, LIKE RECIPROCITY.

AT PRESENT, ARGENTINA REQUIRES VISAS FROM HK BDTC AND BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS VISITING ARGENTINA IRRESPECTIVE OF DURATION OF VISITS. HONG KONG HAVE HAD NO REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE IN ARGENTINA, AND HENCE HOPE THAT RECIPROCITY SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT FROM ARGENTINA'S POINT OF VIEW.

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