TNAG-2648-FCO40-3841-Visa-waiver-agreement-between-Hong-Kong-and-former-Eastern-B-1992 — Page 40

071015Z FOR HKD COMMENT:

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 3942

OF 28044OZ DECEMBER 91

W BS

НКО 34112

烟

VISA POLICY ON NATIONALS OF THE FORMER SOVBLOC.

1

W

THE GOVERNOR'S SECURITY COMMITTEE RECENTLY DISCUSSED CHANGES TO OUR SOVBLOC VISA POLICY FURTHER TO THOSE SET OUT IN OUR TELNOS. 245 AND 422 NOW IMPLEMENTED. WE AIM TO RELAX EXISTING RESTRICTIONS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AND TO THIS END HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH RELEVANT SECURITY ORGANISATIONS HERE AND IN LONDON.

2.

WE INTEND TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING CHANGES ON 1 FEBRUARY, BUT BEFORE DOING SO WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY REACTION TO LIKELY IMPACT BOTH PRACTICALLY AS IT AFFECTS THE WORK OF POSTS AND ON YOUR OWN POLICY:

(A) FOR NATIONALS OF THE FORMER USSR, VIETNAM AND LAOS, WE WOULD LIKE TO INSTITUTE A 'REPORT AND DELAY PROCEDURE WHEREBY VISAS FOR VISITS OF UP TO 7 DAYS SHOULD BE ISSUED AUTOMATICALLY 7 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION PROVIDED NO CONTRARY ADVICE WAS RECEIVED.

(B) FOR NATIONALS OF MONGOLIA, ALBANIA, BULGARIA AND ROMANIA, WE SHOULD LIKE TO INSTITUTE AS LIBERAL A VISA REGIME AS POSSIBLE,

I.E. UNREFERRED VISAS, BUT WOULD NOT WISH TO UNDERCUT YOUR POSITION.

(C) FOR AFGHANISTAN AND CUBA, WE BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE OF UNREFERRED VISAS COULD BE INSTITUTED WITHOUT PROBLEM.

WILSON

YYYY

MAIN

22

MINIMAL

MVD

HKD

[BATHO]

679

Spoke to MVD. They

leading. Mr Shannon in Security Branch - HKG is keen to have a reply

by rest weak MVD have

next sentated t all interestare

in მა

Only

for. The Shannon

ports to solint their veews. two replen первой infomet

and that

we world

on it

it for him.

217/1.