TNAG-2950-FCO40-4227-Hong-Kong-visa-free-travel-for-British-Nationals-(Overseas)--1993 — Page 91

cc Mr. Stevens,

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better to emphasise. VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH NATIONAL COVERSEAS) PASSPORT returvability HOLDERS FROM HONG KONG VISITING AUSTRIA AND MAURITIUS. to Hong Kong

SUMMARY

where all have right at abide

1. WE WOULD LIKE YOUR RENEWED ASSISTANCE TO TRY TO PERSUADE AUSTRIA AND MAURITIUS TO AGREE TO ADMIT, VISA FREE, HONG KONG BN (0) PASSPORT-HOLDERS BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PUBLICITY IN APRIL ON THE NEED TO EXCHANGE BDTCS FOR BN (0)S WELL BEFORE 1997.

DETAIL

2. AUSTRIA AND MAURITIUS ARE THE ONLY TWO COUNTRIES WHICH ADMIT OUR BDTC PASSPORT-HOLDERS VISA-FREE, BUT NOT (NOT) OUR BN (0) PASSPORT HOLDERS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE AUSTRIAN CASE WITH YOU BEFORE. IN YOUR TELNO 2436 OF DECEMBER 1990, YOU ADVISED THAT THE VISA-FREE ACCESS GIVEN TO HONG KONG BDTCS BY AUSTRIA WAS, IN FACT, THE RESULT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT BDTCS WOULD NOT LOSE THEIR VISA-FREE ACCESS IF WE INSISTED ON SEEKING THE SAME TREATMENT FOR BN (0)S.

3. WE DECIDED, THEREFORE, AT THAT TIME NOT (NOT) TO PURSUE THIS ISSUE WITH THE AUSTRIANS BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE MORE ADVERSE CRITICISM IF BDTCS LOST THEIR VISA-FREE ACCESS WHEN TRAVELLING TO AUSTRIA, THAN IN BN (0)S GAINING IT.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

4. RECENTLY, ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN TO THE UNEQUAL STATUS GIVEN TO THE TWO PASSPORTS. FIRST, LAST NOVEMBER, IN REPLY TO A FOLLOW- UP QUESTION IN LEGCO WE HAD TO SAY THAT ONLY AUSTRIA AND MAURITIUS DID NOT (NOT) GRANT VISA-FREE ACCESS TO HONG KONG BN (0) PASSPORT-HOLDERS, ALTHOUGH BOTH DID FOR BOTC PASSPORT-HOLDERS.

5. SECONDLY, WE HAD TO EXPLAIN THE SAME POINT TO EXCO LAST DECEMBER WHEN WE SOUGHT APPROVAL FOR OUR PHASED PROGRAMME FOR BDTCS TO REGISTER AS BN (0)S. WE POINTED OUT THAT A POSSIBLE REASON FOR THE SLOW TAKE-UP OF BN(O)S (WHICH COULD CAUSE US A

Ms. Warlow please speak nost 1/2.

Jel sent 4th Bornes. Jones

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