TNAG-2950-FCO40-4227-Hong-Kong-visa-free-travel-for-British-Nationals-(Overseas)--1993 — Page 31

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MDHOAN 5918

Disappointed that you have repealed the special arrangements in force since 1987 for visa-free access to Spain for Hong Kong BDTCs and BN (0)s.

Trust Spain, in common with other members of the international business community, shares our own aim of

own aim of sustaining confidence in Hong Kong - on the part of Hong Kong residents themselves and Hong Kong's international partners - up to and beyond 1997. International community can assist by maintaining the continuity of the visa abolition arrangements which are now in force in Spain and in many other countries.

Understand you expect to announce arrangements in the next few days. An announcement now creates real problems for us and for the Hong Kong Government. On 21 July a programme came into effect setting out a time-table for the phased registration

of BDTCs as BN (0)s. Publicity at this stage of

is it

the imposition of a visa regime for Spain is bound to have a very negative impact on the start of the phased programme possible to avoid this happening?

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Appreciate that you need time to make the new arrangements known. But as they do not come into effect until October, you delay publicity, say until the beginning of September, to allow HKG to Launch the phased programme?

Background is that BDTC status ends with the transfer of sovereignty, but BDTCs can acquire a new form of British nationality and passport, BN (0), before 30 July 1997 by registering under a phased programme. Cut off dates are established by age groups.

Additional lines of questioning

Why changes to the status quo at this stage?

Background

Anticipates Maastricht which allows for a common visa policy. Article 100c states that "the Council acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament should determine the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the member states."

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Your note verbale stated that these measures were taken in the context of the Schengen Agreement. Helpful to know whether

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