TNAG-2871-FCO40-4125-Hong-Kong-immigration-policy-and-statistics-1993 — Page 114

PAO (C) 1/4731/49

PAO (C) 3/2071/90

SPEAKING NOTE

(To hand over to NCNA on 5.6.93)

Entry of Transitees, Officials and Air-crew

PRC Transitees

R

HICC 341/1

DD!! REGISTRY 1993

REGISTRY

1.

A Action Taken

At present, PRC transitees travelling through Hong Kong on PRC passports of whatever category are required to

obtain a visa for Hong Kong. As it is not convenient or practical for most PRC transitees to submit visa applications to the British Embassy in Beijing, an understanding was reached

between the two Governments in the early 1980s that 7-day

transit visas would be issued upon entry at Lo Wu. However,

those arriving from overseas, in transit back to China, have to apply to an overseas British visa post for a visa.

2.

The average number of PRC transitees processed at Lo Wu per day has increased significantly from 46 in 1982 to above 200 in May 1992. Since then, the daily average has gone up to 585 in December 1992 and, in one single day (23 November 1992), the figure was 1,191.

3.

This sharp increase in workload has led to serious congestion at Lo Wu. British visa posts in the nearby regions are also inundated with visa applications from the large volume

of PRC transitees.

4.

In order to streamline the procedures, the Hong Kong

Government intends to allow PRC transitees who travel on PRC

passports visa-free entry of 7 days if they are genuinely in transit. In this connection, they will be required to prove

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