TNAG-2385-FCO40-3467-Future-of-Hong-Kong-visa-abolition-agreements-1991 — Page 19

CONFIDENTIAL

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PRESENT WE 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 US IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS AND WE ARE PREPARED TO WAIVE VISA REQUIREMENTS FROM ALL ARGENTINIANS FOR VISITS FOR UP TO ONE MONTH. THIS WOULD BE COING BACK TO THE SAME ARRANGEMENT WE HAD WITH THEM BEFORE THE FALKLANDS WAR.

8. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, LIKE RECIPROCIT!'. AT PRESENT, ARGENTINA REQUIRES VISAS FROM HK BDTC AND BN (0) PASSI ORT HOLDERS VISITING ARGENTINA IRRESPECTIVE OF DURATION OF VISITS. WE HAVE HAD NO REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE IN ARGENTINA, AND HENCE WE HOPE THAT RECIPROCITY SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT FROM ARGE ITINA'S POINT OF VIEW.

9. IF YOU AGREE, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SOUND OUT BUENOS AIRES. AT THIS END, WE WOULD PROPOSE 10 SOUND OUT THE CONSUL- GENERAL OF ARGENTINA, WHO RECENTLY COMPLAINED TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER THAT WE REQUIRE VISAS FOR ARGENTINIANS. WE WOULD POINT OUT THAT ARGENTINA ALSO REQUIRES VISAS FOR VISITORS FROM HONG KONG, AND SUGGEST A RECIPROCAL VISA WAIVER ARRANGEMENT FOR VISITS FOR UP TO 1 MONTH. IF ALL GOES WELL, THIS COULD ALSO BE DONE BY AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS IN HONG KONG.

10. IN THIS CONNECTION, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR A COPY OF THE NEW VAA BETWEEN U K AND ARGENTINA.

(C) SCHENGEN AGREEMENT

11. FINALLY, ON A RELATED ISSUE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE ADOPTION OF COMMON VISA REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT MAY HAVE ADVERSE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG. WE DO NOT HAVE THE DETƐ ILS AND SHOULD BE 'GRATEFUL FOR MORE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE. ALTHOUGH THE AGREEMENT, SIGNED ON 19 JUNE, WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE BEFORE SPRING 1992, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE IT NOW TO SE HOW HONG KONG INTERESTS CAN BE PROTECTED.

12. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SO FAR FIVE COUNTRIES - FRANCE, GERMANY, BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS AND LUXEMBOURG - HAVE SIGNED THE AGREEMENT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE CITIZENS OF 1BOUT 100 COUNTRIES TO OBTAIN A COMMON ENTRY VISA VALID FOR ALL FIVE COUNTRIES.

13. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE LIST OF 100 COVERS HONG KONG, A DEPENDENT TERRITORY, OR WHETHER OTHER EC COUNTRIES WI1L SIGN THE AGREEMENT.

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14. OUR POSITION IS THAT WE DO NOT WISH TO SEE IN 1992 HK BO'TC AND BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS REQUIRING VISAS FOR ALL EC COUNTRIES WHEN AT PRESENT WE ONLY REQUIRE VISAS TO VISIT FOUR OUT OF THE 12 (VAMELY FRANCE, GERMANY, PORTUGAL AND DENMARK). IN IARTICULAR, WE WOULD WISH TO AVOID HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS REQUIRING VISAS TO VISIT THE UK.

15. EVEN IF U K DOES NOT SIGN THE AGREEMENT, WE WOULD HOPE TO AVOID ADDITIONAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IMPOSING A VISA REQUIREMENT O HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS. INDEED, WE WOULD HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PERSUADE FRANCE, GERMANY, PORTUGAL AND DENMARK TO DROP THEIR VISA, REQUIREMENTS. AT PRESENT WE ALLOW VISITORS FROM EC COUNTRIES VISA- FREE ENTRY FOR VISITS UP TO ONE TO THREE MONTHS. WE HOPE FOR RECIPROCITY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

CONFIDENTIAL...