RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 919
OF 05044OZ JUNE 93
RESTRICTED
HICC 3441/1
RECEIVED POISTRY
7 Jun 1993
(22)
133732
MDLIAN 7377
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DESK OFFICE.
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INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
ENTRY INTO HONG KONG OF PRC TRANSITEES, OFFICIALS AND AIR CREW.
SUMMARY.
1.
WE HAVE DECIDED THAT FROM 1 AUGUST PRC TRANSITEES TRAVELLING THROUGH HONG KONG ON PRC PASSPORTS OF WHATEVER CATEGORY SHOULD BE GRANTED VISA-FREE ENTRY OF 7 DAYS PROVIDING THAT HAVE VALID PASSPORTS, CONFIRMED ONWARD TICKETS AND ONWARD ENTRY FACILITIES.
2.
WE HAVE TOLD THE CHINESE THAT WE ARE ALSO EXAMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING VISA-FREE VISITS TO HONG KONG OF 14 DAYS FOR HOLDERS OF PRC DIPLOMATIC, OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE PASSPORTS FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES, AND VISA-FREE VISITS OF 7 DAYS FOR PRC AIR CREW TRAVELLING TO HONG KONG. BUT WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT BEFORE A DECISION IS TAKEN, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR HKG OFFICIALS GOING TO CHINA ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND TRAVELLING ON BRITISH PASSPORTS ISSUED IN THE UK AND HONG KONG, AND HONG KONG AIR CREW TRAVELLING TO CHINA.
DETAIL.
3.
THE POLITICAL ADVISER CALLED IN CHEN RONGCHUN OF NCNA ON 5 JUNE, INFORMED HIM OF THE DECISION IN PARA 1 ABOVE AND PUT THE PROPOSAL IN PARA 2 ABOVE TO HIM.
4.
EHRMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PRC TRANSITEES PROCESSED AT LO WU PER DAY HAD INCREASED FROM 46 IN 1982 TO 200 IN MAY 1992 AND 585 IN DECEMBER 1992. THIS SHARP INCREASE HAD LED TO SERIOUS CONGESTION AT LO WU. BRITISH VISA POSTS IN NEARBY REGIONS WERE ALSO INUNDATED WITH VISA APPLICATIONS FROM THE LARGE VOLUME OF PRC TRANSITEES. WE WANTED TO FACILITATE TRAVEL FOR TRANSITEES AND FOR OFFICIAL VISITORS, BUT IN THE CASE OF THE LATTER WE WANTED TO KNOW IF RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE BEFORE TAKING A FINAL DECISION.
5. CHEN RONGCHUN SAID. THAT HE WELCOMED OUR DECISION TO
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