TNAG-2953-FCO40-4230-Hong-Kong-European-Community-visa-regime-for-British-Nationa-1993 — Page 14

Mr Sindon

MVD

See (22

RE

26 16.

Reference....

345/5.

12 OCT 1993

HONG KONG: EC

1.

I

We spoke about my minute of 23 September. Apologies if you did not receive the letter from Hong Kong (Miss Lee's letter of 21 September to me) referred to in the minute. now enclose it. I think you will agree that Miss Lee makes some good points in defence of the arrangements announced by Hong Kong in August which allow 7 day visa free stays in hong Kong for PRC passport holders transiting the Territory. I think that it would be worth making these formally to the Home Office and asking them to deploy them as necessary.

2.

Please also note Miss Lee's statement about measures used in Hong Kong to check on persons in direct transit - this adds to the material Hong Kong supplied us with earlier to rebut allegations that illegal Chinese immigrants are using the Territory as a springboard for emigration to Europe. It is most important that we try to separate in the public European mind bona fide Chinese travellers, and Hong Kong residents travelling on British passports, from those attempting to leave China illegally for destinations in Europe.

-

3.

You will have seen the letter which Mr Rawsthorne wrote to Mr Ricketts on 24 September (and copied to Mr Lewty). I propose that Mr Ricketts should answer this he could include some of the points above, although this would not preclude MVD feeding them in too. I will show you the draft.

4. You may have been wondering whether or not the Secretary of State spoke to the Spanish Foreign Minister at the UNGA about the Spanish visa regime on Hong Kong visitors. Private Office is checking on this there was a lot to keep track of at UNGA! I will let you know.

5.

We are preparing briefing for Mr Goodlad to use in Hong Kong; I will let you have copies of anything we prepare on visa free access to Europe.

I have James

6.10VISAdbj

CODE 18-77

Deborah Barnes Jones

Hong Kong Department

6 October, 1993

WH 312

270 2068

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ней

Nawshrome's

CC Mr Levi ECD(1) + lony of the tickett's letter

+

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Ms Lee's

letter