TNAG-2370-FCO40-3445-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-National-(Overseas)-passports-1991 — Page 11

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE F CO

TELNO 3609

HKD 340

OF 15075OZ NOVEMBER 91

TOP COPY DIST?

171111

MDHIAN 2099

LEGCO QUESTION

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BNCO) PASSPORT HOLDERS

MRS RITA FAN, A MEMBER OF LEGCO, WILL ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTION FOR A WRITTEN ANSWER AT THE NEXT LEGCO MEETING ON 20

NOVEMBER:

QUESTION:

(A)

WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE WAIVED ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR

HOLDERS OF THE FOLLOWING PASSPORTS:

(I)

BRITISH NATIONAL COVERSEAS) PASSPORTS:

(II)

BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS PASSPORTS: AND

(B)

2.

WHAT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING MADE BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO PERSUADE MORE COUNTRIES TO WAIVE ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS AND WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED?

WE PROPOSE TO REPLY AS FOLLOWS

REPLY:

MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT,

A TOTAL OF 72 COUNTRIES/TERRITORIES ALLOW VISA-FREE VISITS TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS HOLDING EITHER HONG KONG BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN PASSPORTS OR BRITISH NATIONAL COVERSEAS) PASSPORTS. A LIST OF THESE COUNTRIES/TERRITORIES IS ATTACHED. A FURTHER TWO COUNTRIES, AUSTRIA AND MAURITIUS, ALLOW VISA-FREE ACCESS TO BDTC PASSPORT HOLDERS, BUT REQUIRE VISAS FOR BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS.

AT OUR REQUEST, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE AUSTRIA AND MAURITIUS TO WAIVE VISA REQUIRE- MENTS FOR BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS IN THE SAME WAY AS FOR

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