TNAG-2385-FCO40-3467-Future-of-Hong-Kong-visa-abolition-agreements-1991 — Page 84

HI

1 HK (345/1

24 JAN 1991

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY—FEO~

TELNO 220

Taxun

OF 211004Z JANUARY 91

INFO PRIORITY VIENNA

Js fi

RESTRICTED

Mr Stephenson MVD will reply. He believes this proposal was

dropped din Ho would not

any

Lovee

TUP COPY

favour its extension Q DIST ?/

to Austria. But he will chick & reply.

90/MK(345/1 (66)

137446

MDLIAN 2118

ра

22/1.

YRTELNO 2436: ANGLO/AUSTRIAN VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT

5

1. WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE FURTHER CLARIFICATION PROVIDED IN TUR. WE AGREE YOU SHOULD PURSUE OPTION B WITH THE AIM OF INCLUDING ALL HONG KONG BDTC'S AND BN (0)S IN THE ANGLO/AUSTRIAN

VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT.

2. WE SUSPECT THAT THE STICKING POINT FOR THE AUSTRIANS MAY BE THE RETURNABILITY OF BRITISH HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS (BDTCS AND BN (0)S) TO THE UK. IN THIS REGARD, WE ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE LONG-STANDING ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE UK AND THE BENELUX AUTHORITIES FOR THE RETURN TO THE UK OF BRITISH HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS DEPORTED FROM THE BENELUX COUNTRIES. THE UK IN TURN REMOVES THEM TO HONG KONG AT HMG'S EXPENSE, AND HONG KONG WITHHOLDS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS FROM SUCH DEPORTEES UNTIL THE REPAY THE REPATRIATION COSTS, WHICH WILL THEN BE REIMBURSED TO THE HOME OFFICE.

3. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT ALSO APPLIES TO BRITISH HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS EXPELLED FROM BOLIVIA, DENMARK, FINLAND, ICELAND, NORWAY AND SWEDEN. (YOU MAY WISH TO REFER TO THE LETTER OF 22 DECEMBER 1976 FROM MR GARDNER OF MVD TO MR MOSS OF THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN THE HAGUE, A COPY OF WHICH WILL FOLLOW BY FAX.)

4. WE BELIEVE THAT IF A SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT CAN BE OFFERED TO THE AUSTRIANS, IT MAY HELP THEM TO ACCEPT OUR PROPOSAL

FORD

YYYY

1

PAGE

RESTRICTED