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September confirming that the necessary strengthening of the external frontiers is in place. (We assess this to be an optimistic deadline). At present, the Nine meet as a consultative group. Once the Convention is implemented a Uniform
Oct Schengen Visa will be issued by any signatory state, allowing
circulation within the signatory states, with no internal border checks between them. In the meantime there is nothing to prevent individual Schengen members from introducing visa regimes unilaterally as the Spanish appear to have done.
Comment
6. We do not have detailed knowledge of discussions between Schengen states. We suspect that they may seek to adopt a wide ranging visa regime (like the French) we know that they are considering a draft list of countries which will require visas to enter Schengen states. But we do not know which countries are on it. Neither do we know the Commission's intentions over the common visa list. We believe that they are only now beginning to focus on the issue. We shall need to find out more. But their attitudes are likely to be influenced by general thinking within the Community and a more maximalist regime cannot be ruled out. (Our telno 226, not to all, also refers). At present the UK has visa requirements on many fewer countries than most of our partners.
7.
We fully appreciate the sensitivities that any new visa requirements will arouse in Hong Kong. We are considering urgently what can be done to maintain the level of access to Europe presently enjoyed by BDTCs and BNOS and how to prevent further erosion. We shall keep you posted.
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