(19
defered.
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
MUD 345/85
CONFIDENTIAL
RECE
2 50CT 1993
(28
163147
MDHIAN 9658
BEST OFFICEL
INDE
TOP COPY Q DIST?
Mr Wordrowd Rates. Tel
ра
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1638
OF 191034Z OCTOBER 93
INFO IMMEDIATE MADRID, ROME, LISBON, LUXEMBOURG, HAGUE, BRUSSELS INFO IMMEDIATE BONN, PARIS, ATHENS, UK REP BRUSSELS
BRUSSELS TELNO 479, OUR TELNO 1528, AND MADRID TELNO 455 : SPANISH VISA REGIME FOR HONG KONG BDTCS AND BN(O)S
SUMMARY
ful
16.
17
THE SPANISH IMPOSED VISA REQUIREMENTS ON 1 OCTOBER. PUBLIC CONCERNED ABOUT GENERAL ISSUE OF VISA RESTRICTIONS AND PRESS CONTINUE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT EFFECTS OF THE SCHENGEN COMMON VISA
REGIME ON HONG KONG. GRATEFUL IF EFFORTS COULD BE MADE BEFORE DECEMBER (WHEN THE SCHENGEN COMMON VISA REGIME COMES INTO PLACE) TO PERSUADE SCHENGEN COUNTRIES TO AGREE TO SCHENGEN-WIDE VISA FREE ACCESS FOR HK BDTCS AND BNCO)S, BY INCLUDING HONG KONG ON THE SCHENGEN LIST OF VISA-WAIVER COUNTRIES.
DETAIL
2. AS ANTICIPATED, THE SPANISH WENT AHEAD WITH THEIR NEW VISA REGIME FOR HONG KONG ON 1 OCTOBER. THIS RECEIVED LITTLE PUBLICITY HERE, AND DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN WIDELY ADVERTISED BY THE SPANISH. THE PUBLIC HERE CONTINUES TO BE SENSITIVE ABOUT VISA RESTRICTIONS AND THERE ARE STILL PRESS REPORTS EXPRESSING SCEPTICISM ABOUT THE USEFULNESS OF THE BDTC AND BN(O) PASSPORTS AS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS. THE PRESS ALSO CONTINUES TO SHOW INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S POSITION IN THE SCHENGEN COMMON VIS REGIME.
3. WE, THEREFORE, NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO GET THE BEST DEAL FOR HONG KONG BDTCS AND BN (0)S. WE SUGGEST THAT THE NEXT STEP IS TO CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON LOBBYING THE SCHENGEN STATES TO INCLUDE HONG KONG IN THE COMMON VISA WAIVER LIST (OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM FIRST TUR IS THAT HONG KONG NOW DOES NOT FEATURE ON ANY OF THE THREE LISTS COMPRISING RESPECTIVELY, COUNTRIES WHICH REQUIRE VISAS FOR SCHENGEN, COUNTRIES WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS, AND COUNTRIES FOR WHICH THERE IS NO SCHENGEN-WIDE COMMONALITY). WE SHALL OF COURSE HAVE TO MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS WITH COUNTRIES WHICH NOW REQUIRE VIS/S FOR HONG KONG BDTCS
Mr. Mom's
1.
use
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
Mv. Sindon (MVD) has reservations about whether it would be of any to knock on cloors. Little prospect of Spain changing its mind (SED concur)
uncitely that France and Germany too and will wish to change the status quo.
be an unhelpful. If we do wish to raise this with the Spamards again their may much lobbying may get people thinking about BDTC:/ ONE)S
may
wonhelpful
on
opportunity 26 but when the Sds will be meeting
ting. But we must let his counterpont out the Special FAC.
mec
SED Know
by Tomorror.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.