TNAG-2649-FCO40-3842-Hong-Kong-visa-policy-with-other-countries-1992 — Page 24

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FERRED TO SPD FOR NUKUALOFA MLNAN 1478

CONFIDENTIAL

PP NU

FM HKIMM TO NUKUA

080730Z JAN

GRS 300

CONFIDENTIAL

FM IMMIG HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY NUKUALOFA TELNO 1

OF 080730Z JANUARY 92

RE. TONGAN NATIONAL PASSPORT (TNP).

WE UNDERSTAND FROM YOUR TELNO 005 OF 22 AUGUST 1990 THAT THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TONGAN PASSPORTS NAMELY TONGAN ORDINARY PASSPORT: TONGAN NATIONAL PASSPORT (TNP) AND TONGAN PROTECTED PERSONS PASSPORT (TPPP) AVAILABLE TO FOREIGN RESIDENTS. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED COPY OF THE TONGAN PASSPORT RESIDENTS. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED COPY OF THE TONGAN PASSPORT (AMENDMENT) ACT (7 OF 1989) SENT BY YOU ON 28 AUGUST 1990.

IN ORDER TO CURB THE INCREASING NUMBER OF FORMER PRC RESIDENTS WHO ARRIVE HONG KONG AS VISITORS, ON STRENGTH OF THE TPP PASSPORTS OBTAINED BY INVESTMENT IN TONGA, AND APPLY FOR RESIDENCE AFTERWARDS, WE HAVE IMPOSED A VISA REQUIREMENT FOR HOLDERS OF TPP PASSPORT EFFECTIVE FROM 1 JULY 1991.

IT HAS COME TO NOTICE RECENTLY THAT SOME FORMER PRC RESIDENTS ALSO TRAVELLED TO HONG KONG ON STRENGTH OF TNP IN WHICH THEY ARE DESCRIBED AS TONGAN NATIONAL PASSPORT HOLDER. INFORMATION REVEALED THAT SOME TNP ARE BEING SOLD TO FOREIGN INVESTORS WHO DO NOT HAVE AUTOMATIC RIGHT OF RE-ENTRY AND RESIDENCE IN TONGA.

FOR THIS REASON, THE LOCAL AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE GENERAL HAS ADVISED THAT TNP IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR VISA PURPOSE UNLESS THE BEARER CAN PRODUCE SEPARATE EVIDENCE OF TONGAN NATIONALITY.

THE TONGAN PASSPORT AMENDMENT ACT STATES THAT A TNP CONFERS NO RIGHT OF TONGAN NATIONALITY OR TONGAN CITIZENSHIP OR TO ANY RIGHT ENJOYED SOLELY BY TONGANS. IT ALSO STATES THAT A TNP HOLDER SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF TONGA IF HE HAS BEEN PRESENT IN TONGA FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR. WE THEREFORE HAVE DOUBTS ON ACCEPTING TNP AS A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE ON THE STATUS OF TNP AND PERHAPS CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES UNDER WHICH TNP IS ISSUED. PLEASE ALSO FURNISH US INFORMATION RELATING TO ENTRANCE CLEARANCE ON TNP HOLDERS IF THERE IS ANY AT YOUR SIDE. IMMIGRATION.

WILSON

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