TNAG-2385-FCO40-3467-Future-of-Hong-Kong-visa-abolition-agreements-1991 — Page 71

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

fatio 37/

RESTRICTED

Huje 345/1

ните

Mr. Modris

RESTRICTED

FM BUENOS AIRES

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 88

OF 19143OZ FEBRUARY 91

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG

MyPaul. Hic

pl dat

Ife diemn't seeus

a reply

have explaced why we

want

14

060174

MDLIAN 9673

Азелийг /нка

agreement, alw than one

with G

YOUR TELNO 59 AND HONG KONG TELNO 470: VISA WAIVER: ARGENTINA/HONG KONG

TOP

соту

1.

I CALLED ON PETRELLA ON 18 FEBRUARY AND MADE THE POINTS IN YOUR TURS AND GAVE HIM A COPY OF THE HONG KONG/SOUTH AFRICAN EXCHANGE. HE SAID THAT HE WAS FIGHTING TWO OBJECTIONS WITHIN THE MINISTRY: ONE OF FORM AND ONE OF SUBSTANCE. THE FIRST WAS THAT THERE WERE SOME IN THE MINISTRY WHO DID NOT WISH TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF A COLONY FOR FALKLANDS REASONS. IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER FOR HIM IF WE COULD AGREE TO AN EXCHANGE BETWEEN HMG CON BEHALF OF HONG KONG) AND ARGENTINA. THE SECOND WORRY WAS THAT HONG KONG CITIZENS MIGHT USE THE RELAXATION AS A MEANS OF IMMIGRATION INTO ARGENTINA. HE DID NOT SHARE EITHER OF THESE CONCERNS, BUT NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THEM. I OUTLINED OUR CURRENT POLICY ON HONG KONG, EXPLAINING THAT OUR AIM WAS TO KEEP HONG KONG CITIZENS THERE BUT TO GIVE KEY CITIZENS AN INSURANCE POLICY. I ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WAIVER AGREEMENT WAS FOR VISITORS, NOT FOR THOSE WANTING TO SET UP RESIDENCE. HE WAS CONTENT FOR THE AGREEMENT TO BE IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS RATHER THAN A FORMAL AGREEMENT. HE ASKED IF WE COULD GIVE HIM A LIST OF OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAD ENTERED INTO SIMILAR AGREEMENTS WITH HONG KONG (THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXAMPLE IS NOT AS HELPFUL AS IT MIGHT BE AS ARGENTINA DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA).

2.

IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS BASIS, I SUGGEST THAT YOU NOW SEND ME THE DRAFT OF A LETTER CONTAINING OUR PROPOSALS FOR A WAIVER AGREEMENT.

FAULKNER

YYYY

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.