RESTRICTED
130653 MDLOAN 8880
which act as a deterent to would-be illegal immigrants. Recently Hong Kong reinforced controls on persons in direct transit who remain airside to ensure that it is not used as a transit point for illegal immigrants.
Trust you, in common with other members of the international business community, share our aim of sustaining confidence in Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents set considerable store by their access to third countries. Continuity in arrangements like those between Hong Kong and your own country constitute an important confidence building measure for the Hong Kong community.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS
We recognise that it will be a difficult task to turn the tide, given the trend in Europe towards expanding visa regimes. But we believe we have to do our utmost in view of our responsibilities for Hong Kong and the special position there of BDTCs and BN (0)s. At the very least we would aim to delay as Long as possible the introduction of visas for Hong Kong by any of the Schengen countries that do not at present require them.
8. A wider problem will arise in the context of Commission preparations for an EC wide CVL under the terms of Maastricht 100C. We are considering how best to defend Hong Kong's position after 1 January 1996 (when the introduction of Qualified Majority Voting removes our ability to veto the inclusion of Hong Kong on a CVL).
9.
(FOR UKREP) We will want to probe Commission thinking on the CVL and would welcome your views on when will be the right time to take soundings and to feed in our concerns. We gather that the Commission are expected to produce a position paper on this area in October: it would be useful to have confirmation.
HURD
YYYY
3
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.