TNAG-2953-FCO40-4230-Hong-Kong-European-Community-visa-regime-for-British-Nationa-1993 — Page 10

27 September 1993

нко

Edward llewellyn.

MUD 360/2 345/5 звона

RECE

2 5 OCT 1993

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

London SWIA 2AH

From The Secretary of State

PA.

27

RECE

MISTRY

4

1593

REGISTRY

INDE

PA

Action Taken

INDE

деш мити

Thank you for your letter of 7 September on behalf of

members of LegCo about the possible curtailment of

visa-free entry for Hong Kong British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTCS) and British National (Overseas) Citizens

(BN(0)s) to European countries which are signatories of the

Schengen Convention.

I agree with you that continuity in visa free travel

arrangements is an important factor in sustaining the confidence of Hong Kong people. We have indeed already taken up the matter with Schengen Convention countries and

have urged those who do not at present require visas to

maintain visa free access for these Hong Kong visitors.

We understand that BDTCS and BN(O)s will continue to enjoy visa free travel to Belgium, Luxembourg, The

Netherlands, Italy and Greece. We have also established

that there are no plans for a common approach among the Schengen Convention signatories towards visas for Hong Kong. All this is reassuring. However, the Spanish authorities tell us that they will require BDTCs and BN(0)s visiting Spain from 1 October 1993 to apply for visas.

This requirement in effect brings to an end an arrangement which has been in force since 1988 under which Spain

Mrs Elsie Tu