TNAG-2953-FCO40-4230-Hong-Kong-European-Community-visa-regime-for-British-Nationa-1993 — Page 43

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Schengen directive but is rather an internal decision to standardise their own visa requirements using Schengen as a pretext. We have also been told by the French (now holding the

Schengen Presidency) that Hong Kong does not appear on a Schengen Common Visa List. We understand that Benelux, Greece and Italy all have no plans at present to impose a visa regime on Hong Kong. We have pressed the Spaniards hard up to and including Political Director level to change their minds, so far

without success. We are now considering what other avenues we can pursue, but the prospects for moving the Spaniards on this issue look bleak.

Vicketts

PF Ricketts

CONFIDENTIAL

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