CONFIDENTIAL
146473
MDLIAN 2839
(H) MORE POSITIVE EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF TELEX OF FAX BY VISA APPLICANTS FROM ALL COUNTRIES ABOVE AND TO INFORM THEM OF THE READY AVAILABILITY OF DOUBLE JOURNEY VISIT
VISAS.
3. YOU WILL SEE FROM THE ABOVE THAT WE HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR LEAD WITH REGARD TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND HUNGARY. WE PROPOSE TO GO FURTHER THAN YOU HAVE ON POLAND AS WE DO NOT (NOT) FACE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS YOURSELVES OVER POTENTIAL POLISH IMMIGRATION AND SECURITY.
4. THE DISCONTINUATION OF SECURITY CHECKS PROPOSED IN PARA 2(B) FOLLOWS FROM THE DECISION TO SEEK VISA WAIVER ARRANGEMENTS. THE REDUCTION TO LOCAL CHONG KONG) SECURITY CHECKING FOR VIETNAM, MONGOLIA, LAOS AND CAMBODIA WAS TAKEN ON ADVICE THAT LITTLE INFORMATION ON THESE COUNTRIES IS HELD IN LONDON. LOCAL CHECKING SHOULD ENABLE US TO CUT VISA PROCESSING TIME TO 10 WORKING DAYS/TWO WEEKS.
5. WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH VISA WAIVER ARRANGEMENTS WITH CZECHOSLOVAKIA, HUNGARY AND POLAND AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL, AS AN INITIAL STEP, IF PRAGUE, WARSAW AND BUDAPEST COULD BE INSTRUCTED TO APPROACH RESPECTIVE HOST GOVERNMENTS TO SOUND THEM OUT. OUR PREFERENCE IS FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE WAIVER ARRANGEMENT RATHER THAN A FORMAL AGREEMENT IN ORDER TO AVOID CONSTITUTIONAL COMPLICATIONS OVER 1997.
6. SUBJECT TO ANY VIEWS YOU MAY HAVE, WE INTEND TO INFORM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE ABOVE DECISIONS, PROBABLY ON TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY. FROM THE LATTER DATE, AND PRIOR TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF VISA WAIVER ARRANGEMENTS, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF PRAGUE, WARSAW AND BUDAPEST COULD ISSUE UNREFERRED VISAS FOR NATIONALS WISHING TO VISIT HONG KONG.
FORD
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