TNAG-2950-FCO40-4227-Hong-Kong-visa-free-travel-for-British-Nationals-(Overseas)--1993 — Page 112

Mr Woodrow

Hong Kong Department

Reference

Ref:

مل دم

ра

ACCEPTABILITY OF BN (0) PASSPORTS

1.

You sought MVD's advice on para.3(iii) of Mr Hum's minute of 26 January recording his meeting with Mr Young who is anxious to obtain visa-free travel for holders of BN(0) passports to as many countries as possible.

2. You will have seen from my minute of today to Lawrence Stephenson, who is responsible in MVD for European Community matters, that the subject is not straightforward. I enclose a copy of his reply. The idea of a meeting is a good one, especially if we can also discuss Deborah Barnes-Jones' minute to me of 17 November. The position on Visa Abolition Agreements is far from clear mainly because so many were concluded long before the existence of BN (0) and BDTC passports. (In recent times we have concluded agreements with Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary all refer to anyone who has "the right of abode in the United Kingdom or is entitled to readmission to the United Kingdom" as being free to travel to the country concerned without the necessity of first obtaining a visa on their passports. Hong Kong has concluded separate agreements, bilaterally, with Poland and Argentina).

We could use the meeting to decide on what our precise role is, or ought to be, in assisting Hong Kong in this field. There may also be a benefit in inviting NTCD (Paul Ronchetti). I should be grateful for your views.

3.

4. I regret that I cannot at the moment meet your request for a substantive "form of words" for Mr Young. The most that we can say at present, I believe, is that we are examining ways in which we can help Hong Kong's case. would not like to lead Mr Young into believing that we can persuade the French and Germans into a less restrictive policy towards BN (0) passport holders.

A C Stephens

Migration and Visa Department

2 February 1993

cc (by fax) with relevant papers to Howard Parkinson, c/o Russell Jarvis, BTC Hong Kong, for information

RECE

HKD 346/3.

12 FE. 1993

CODE 18-77

IND