TNAG-2950-FCO40-4227-Hong-Kong-visa-free-travel-for-British-Nationals-(Overseas)--1993 — Page 49

Mr Parkinson, MVD

Mr Sheinwald, ECD (E)

Mr. Levy

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Reference

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(MUD)

28

Mr Sindon has promined th next day

a

reply

in

two,

ECD(1),

EC COMMON VISA POLICY: HONG KONG

Mr Parkinson's minute of 24 May (now copied to all) to Mr Bunten in this department refers.

1.

2.

As I have mentioned previously to Mr Parkinson, the prospect of an EC Common visa list over which we may have no control (ie once voting is by qualified majority) is worrying in the Hong Kong context. Hong Kong residents travelling on British passports will become increasingly sensitive about their treatment as 1997 approaches. As a matter of principle, we should seek to maintain the level of access which they have now and to prevent any erosion. Any stepping up in visa restrictions which Mr Parkinson implies may well take place after 1.1.96 - will be painted in the blackest colours in Hong Kong, and will certainly be interpreted as the UK selling the territory short.

3.

I would like to (a) consider what we can do to ensure that there is no loss of access for Hong Kong BTDCs and BN (0)s once the EC Common visa list goes into community competence and (b) understand better what the visa list involves.

4. What are the terms of operation governing this mechanism (that is, the obligation to make community wide decisions about

common visa list by qualified majority voting)? In the context of Hong Kong, we are talking about a British national interest. What provision is made for member countries to protect such interests? And what are the implications of inclusion on the list? Would it mean that any Hong Kong residents travelling on British passports (excluding British citizens of course) would then need to go through some form of entry clearance prior to entry to any EC country (including the UK)? What form would this entry clearance take? Presumably such clearance would be required on trips for which the UK authorities would not, under present rules, require entry clearance. It would of course be out of the question to have to introduce a visa as such for entry into the UK into a British passport.

5.

In short I would be grateful for some more detailed

ec.list.NAT.JRB

CODE 18-77

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