BILATERAL WORD WITH SPANISH POLITICAL DIRECTOR
VISAS FOR HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS
- Wish to raise technical visa issue which is causing real political concern in Hong Kong.
It relates to Spanish notification to our Embassy in Madrid in August that a visa regime will be imposed from 1 October 1993 on all Hong Kong British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTCS) and British National (Overseas) (BNO) visitors to Spain.
- At present, holders of these passports visiting Spain for less than a month do not need visas. Continuity in visa free travel arrangements is an important factor in sustaining confidence in Hong Kong.
Understand from our Embassy in Madrid that the visa restrictions to be introduced for Hong Kong were made in the context of the technical adjustments required in the run-up to implementation of the Schengen Convention.
- We understand Schengen countries' need to align practices. However, among the six Schengen countries not now requiring visas for Hong Kong BDTCS and BN (0)s, Spain seems to be the only one which intends to introduce new requirements. Fact that Spain considering this step has already leaked in Hong Kong. People are worried about the political signal it sends.
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Wonder whether you could take a look at this to see whether Schengen requirements could be met without needing to impose a visa regime. We would be grateful for more time to discuss the situation further with the Spanish side.
note.visafree.NAT
JEB
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