GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG,
TUE 31 MAR 92 10:25
CONFIDENTIAL
PG.03
機密
Declaration (JD) was negotiated.
The JD therefore
contains a provision whereby the Central People
Government shall assist or authorize the Government of
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to conclude
VAAS with states or regions (JD 168). This is
reflected in Article 155 of the Basic Law. But this
provision can only come into effect after 1997 and it
may take time for the SARG to negotiate VAAS. Thus
BDTC and BNO passport holders could lose visa-free
entry to some territories on 1 July 1997. And HKSAR
passport holders may not immediately be entitled to any
visa-free arrangements.
Therefore, we propose that
Hong Kong should conclude its own VAAS before 1997,
covering all present and future categories of travel
documents, and continuing in force after the
transition. As such agreements would constitute new
international rights and obligations continuing in
force after 1997, we would need to consult the Chinese
in the JLG.
CHINESE REACTION
10.
The Chinese would probably be attracted to
the idea of concluding VAAS in advance of 1997 to cover
HKSAR passports.
However, they would not have the same
- my
CONFIDENTIAL
機密
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.