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This does not amount to, as your minute puts it, "negotiating other countries acceptance of BOCs status when negotiating Visa Abolition Agreements". But it does allow those holders of BDTC or BN (0) passports which bear the endorsement "Holder is entitled to readmission to the UK" to travel visa-free to the countries concerned. There would be difficulties in us doing more for the reasons given in my minute of 2 February to John Woodrow and in Jack Thompson's minute of 5 June 1990 to Pamela Major of your Department in response to her undated minute attaching a position paper produced by Hong Kong dated 21 May 1990. Your Department's comments on the position paper were in FCO telno 1249 of 4 July 1990 to Hong Kong.
5.
Subsequent to that exchange, Hong Kong's telno 2460 of
8 August 1990 said "we intend to continue to make administrative arrangements wherever appropriate with third countries for visa free access for HK, BDTCs and BN (0)s". This suggests that any UK involvement in the conclusion of VAAS between Hong Kong and other countries ceased. This was further strengthened by your Department's proposal to issue a general entrustment to Hong Kong to negotiate and conclude Visa Abolition Agreements (Pamela Major's minute of June 1991 to me and FCO telno 1188 of 24 June 1991 to Hong Kong to which,
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incidentally, I can trace no reply). \ folio (3
6.
folio Ro
If further clarification is required, perhaps we could arrange a meeting as suggested in my minute of 2 February to John Woodrow.
HK C 040/3°
CODE 18-77
A C Stephens
(MVD CL420 270 4031)
3 February 1993
cc: Mr Ronchetti, NTCD
Mr Kelly, B4 Division, Home Office
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