TNAG-2795-FCO40-4035-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1993 — Page 14

-1993

布政司署

香港下亞厘畢道

POLITICA

*** Our Ref.: PAO(S) 29/64

來茵檔號 Your Ref:

Mr Charles Garrett

02013

4,

88

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD HONG KONG

31 December 1993

pa

02075

Hong Kong Department, FCO.

Bear Chester,

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

04 JAN 1994

DESK UPric

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

Taiwanese Pastors in Hong Kong

No trace

I refer to Mr Blunt's letter of 24 November addressed to you on visas for Taiwanese pastors to visit Hong Kong.

Taiwanese pastors are of course treated in the same way as any other visitors from Taiwan. Since there is no British visa post in Taiwan, Taiwanese residents can apply for visit permits through authorised airlines in Hong Kong. visas, if issued, are endorsed on Declarations of Identity for Visa Purposes instead of on Taiwan passports, as Taiwan is an administration not recognised by HMG.

There are several types of permits available to Taiwanese visitors. These include single journey visit permits, group visit permits and multiple journey visa permits. A single journey visit permit is normally valid for a stay of 7 days to 3 months. A group visit permit, which is valid either for a single journey or a double journey will enable the holder to stay in Hong Kong for 7 days. A multiple visit permit will enable the holder to make multiple visits and stay for 14 days on each landing.

There were occasions when Taiwanese visitors who did not possess visas or visit permits for Hong Kong arrived in Hong Kong from China. In most of these cases, we exercised flexibility by issuing them visas on arrival. This, however, unavoidably prolonged the immigration clearance process, especially if they arrived during peak hours. We therefore recommend that Taiwan visitors should obtain visit permits beforehand.

I hope the above information clarifies our position.

>

c.c.

(MS Annette Lee) Assistant/Political Adviser

P Morrice Esq., BTCO, Taipei (By Bag)

Secretary for Security (Attn: Miss Ingrid Ho)

Mr D G Blunt, British High Commission, Canberra (by fax) Mr Mark Gee, Hong Kong Department, FCO (By fax)

TOTAL P.02