TNAG-2951-FCO40-4228-Hong-Kong-visa-free-travel-for-British-Nationals-(Overseas)--1993 — Page 91

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SURPRISINGLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE INTENSIVE PRESS COVERAGE OVER

THE LAST FEW DAYS, MOST OF THE CONSULS-GENERAL SEEMED UNSIGHTED. BUT THEY EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING FOR OUR CONCERNS, AND AGREED TO REPORT OUR REPRESENTATIONS TO THEIR GOVERNMENTS, AND TO DO THEIR BEST TO KEEP US INFORMED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHENGEN VISA

POLICIES.

5.

NONE OF THE CONSULS-GENERAL WAS ABLE TO GIVE US A LIST OF THE COUNTRIES TO WHOM THE CVL WOULD APPLY. IT WOULD HELP TO REINFORCE

THE POINT THAT THE CVL IS NOT SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AT HONG KONG IF WE COULD CITE EXAMPLES IN PUBLIC OF OTHER NATIONALS WHO CURRENTLY ENJOY VISA-FREE ACCESS TO SOME SCHENGEN COUNTRIES, BUT WHO UNDER THE CVL WILL IN FUTURE NEED VISAS TO ENTER THE SCHENGEN AREA THROUGH ANY OF THEM. IF ANY POSTS ARE ABLE IN THE COURSE OF THEIR LOBBYING TO SHED ANY LIGHT ON THIS, GRATEFUL TO KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

6. FORTUNATELY, PUBLIC ATTENTION HERE HAS SO FAR BEEN LIMITED SPECIFICALLY TO THE SCHENGEN CVL. THE QUESTION OF FUTURE EC ARRANGEMENTS UNDER MAASTRICHT HAS NOT ARISEN. BUT GIVEN THE VIGOR

WITH WHICH THE PRESS ARE PURSUING THIS STORY IT COULD ARISE AT ANY

TIME. IF IT DOES, WE PROPOSE, SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH THE

SCHENGEN COUNTRIES ARE PLANNING TO INTRODUCE SOON AND THOSE WHICH

THE EC WILL APPLY FROM 1996 UNDER MAASTRICHT: THAT THE LATTER WILL

BE DISCUSSED IN DUE COURSE BETWEEN EC GOVERNMENTS: AND THAT HMG

WILL OF COURSE ENSURE THAT FULL ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF HONG KONG'S

INTERESTS IN THE EVENTUAL DECISION.

FORD

YYYY

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HKD

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LEGAL ADVISERS

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PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR HUM

MR ALSTON

MR GREENSTOCK

MR JAY

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