HKC 345/1
VAA'S
SPEAKING NOTE
SAR
con
Handed over (Gamu/Zlving) 4.8",
1. R. Buli (11)
VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS
Jürgen Parking Neshing CAB
MIN
Kong, Hong
of Ease
for
travel
offers clear
instance to Hong Kong
visa-free
visitors
coming to Hong
The Joint Declaration envisages that the Hong Kong Government will have its own visa abolition agreements
with states or regions.
benefits
to
businessmen who need to travel at short notice.
travel,
Kong,
for especially
trade, facilitates
overseas
and
and prosperity.
TO
economic development and tourism
thus contributes significantly to Hong Kong's stability enhance the confidence of Hong Kong
that
convenience the desirable also
extended to as many Hong Kong
people,
visa-free
it is
travel
should
be
residents as possible, both before and after 1997.
2.
At present,
75
visa-free
to entry
and countries
of
territories allow
certain categories of Hong Kong
of BN (0) and BDTC passports.
residents, namely holders
Most countries
basis
of
formal
long
agreement.
standing
10
do
SQ on
the
arrangements
not
countries do
SO
by virtue
(VAAS)
with the
United Kingdom
Kong.
In three
the cases,
notes.
Details
are
set
covered by any
of
Visa Abolition Agreements
which also apply to Hong
Government has
negotiated visa waiver arrangements through an exchange of
The
nationals of these 75 countries and territories are allowed
Hong Kong
out on the attached list.
visa-free
Immigration
Ordinance.
visits to
under
Kong by Hong
Section 61 (2)
the Director of
of the
Immigration
3.
the In
interests
of
objective
should
be
to ensure
that
our continuity,
countries the
joint
and
territories on the attached list maintain their policy on Hong Kong after 1997 in respect of visa free entry and to
extend
it
to other categories,
Identity
holders.
It
such as Certificate of is equally important that similar arrangements be made for holders of Hong Kong SAR passports
from 1 July 1997.
16
2
4.
The best way of achieving this, in our view, would be to put the existing visa-free arrangements on a formal footing by negotiating and concluding VAAS with third countries which extend beyond 1997. As such negotiations are likely to be lengthy and time consuming, it would be
prudent to
begin this process soon, and well before 1997.
That would help to avoid a hiatus around 1997 and the
possibility of loss of visa free access for some Hong Kong
residents at that time.
5.
The British side proposes that the Hong Kong
Government be authorised to negotiate and conclude VAAS
which could remain in force after 1997. We further propose that the VAAS should be negotiated along the lines of a model draft agreement which has been prepared for this
purpose,
side.
6.
to
"a
and
which I would like to hand to the Chinese
This model agreement is essentially a standard VAA.
In the
model agreement, the British side proposes use the term "requisite travel document" which will mean valid travel document that contains a statement endorsed
by a competent authority that the bearer has the right of
abode in Hong Kong". This term would cover persons currently enjoying visa-free entry to the 75 countries and territories mentioned earlier. It would also be applicable holders of Certificates of Identity and the future HKSAR
to
passport.
7.
should
It is intended that the Hong Kong Government negotiate with countries which are Hong Kong's major trading partners and tourist destinations. The British
side would of course consult the Chinese side on
prospective negotiating partners and on any texts that the Hong Kong Government initials, before these agreements are
concluded.
model VAA.
1
3
8.
We
would
be
grateful
for
the Chinese
side's
comments on this proposal and on the text of the draft
Office of the Senior British Representative
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group
14 August 1992
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.