TNAG-2951-FCO40-4228-Hong-Kong-visa-free-travel-for-British-Nationals-(Overseas)--1993 — Page 53

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MDLIAN 2568

COUNTRIES ON THE RUMOURED COMMON LIST, AND OUR LACK OF INFORMATION DID NOT IMPROVE MATTERS.

7. THE FACT THAT THERE IS APPARENTLY NO IMPENDING MOVE BY ALL 9 SCHENGEN COUNTRIES TO IMPOSE A VISA REGIME ON HKBDTC/BN (0)S SHOULD HELP TO DISPEL LEGCO CONCERN TO SOME EXTENT. BUT IT IS STILL IMPORTANT THAT WE NOW BE SEEN TO LOBBY VIGOROUSLY TO DISSUADE THE SPANISH FROM THEIR INTENDED UNILATERAL ACTION. IF, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THIS DOES NOT SUCCEED, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HONG KONG HAS NOT BEEN SINGLED OUT, AND THEREFORE TO KNOW ON WHAT OTHER NATIONALS THE SPANISH ARE INTENDING TO IMPOSE A NEW VISA REGIME. IN PARTICULAR, WILL IT APPLY TO OTHER BDTCS APART FROM THOSE IN HONG KONG?

FORD

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

42

ΜΑΙΝ

42

HKD

MVD

SED

WED

ECD (I)

LEGAL ADVISERS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR HUM

MR ALSTON

MR GREENSTOCK

MR JAY

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