TNAG-2385-FCO40-3467-Future-of-Hong-Kong-visa-abolition-agreements-1991 — Page 79

UNCLASSIFIED

FM OSLO

TO PRIORITY HAMILTON

TELNO 2

UNCLASSIFIED

Riscussed with no Severs MVD.

Minute to wIAD.

OF 16080OZ JANUARY 91

AND TO PRIORITY FCO

Ra

8

126771

MDLIAN 1473

M

Please

avange

CAMENDED DISTRIBUTION)

Pal 31/1. HK (345/1

INFO ROUTINE COPENHAGEN, HELSINKI

-NOR

repeat to HK.

06 FEB 1991 Bace to me

RM17/1

MY TELNO 1: NORWAY/BERMUDA VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT

1. RESPONSIBLE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OFFICIAL CHOLSTER) TELEPHONED DHM ON 15 JANUARY TO SAY HE WAS URGENTLY REVIEWING NORWAY'S POSITION AND TO ASK FOR SOME TECHNICAL ADVICE. HE IS PREPARING RECOMMENDATIONS ON

TWO OPTIONS:

A) TO WAIVE VISAS FOR ALL REPEAT ALL BDTCS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK OR NOT (WHICH IS APPARENTLY WHAT THE SWEDES HAVE DONE), AND

B) TO CONTRIVE A WAIVER FOR CARRIERS OF BDTC (BERMUDA) PASSPORTS ONLY

2. TO HELP COMPARE THE PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF THESE OPTIONS, HOLTER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

I) HOW MANY HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS HAVE BDTC STATUS WITH, AND WITHOUT, RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK RESPECTIVELY, (IF ANY BNO PASSPORT HOLDERS HAVE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE THAT FIGURE AS WELL.)

II) ASSUMING NORWAY DID DECIDE TO ADMIT ALL BDTCS, BUT THEN HAD TO DEPORT OR TURN BACK AN INDIVIDUAL BDTC PASSPORT HOLDER WHO DID NOT (NOT) HAVE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK, COULD THAT PERSON BE SENT BACK TO THE UK IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (ON THE GROUND THAT HE/SHE HAD UNRESTRICTED RIGHT OF ENTRY THERE) OR WOULD HE/SHE HAVE TO BE SENT ALL THE WAY HOME? THIS PRESUMABLY HAS COST IMPLICATIONS.

3. HOLTER HAS FURTHER ASKED, IN THE EVENT THAT A SPECIAL WAIVER WAS TO BE GRANTED FOR BDTC (BERMUDA) PASSPORT CARRIERS, IN WHAT FORM SUCH AN AGREEMENT COULD BE CAST SO AS TO HAVE BINDING FORCE IN BOTH BERMUDA AND NORWAY BUT FOR THOSE PARTIES ONLY. DOES BERMUDA HAVE

POWER TO CONCLUDE BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON IMMIGRATION MATTERS? IF NOT, WHAT OTHER PROCEDURES ARE AVAILABLE? DO BERMUDA'S EXISTING VISA WAIVER AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES OFFER ANY USEFUL PRECEDENTS?

4. GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE. POINTS IN PARA 2 ARE PRESUMABLY FOR FCO IN FIRST INSTANCE.

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