HC Deb 19 July 1989 vol 157 c191W
Sir Eldon Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the Anglo-Taiwan trade committee about the opening in Taipei of the British visa-handling office; how many visas were processed on each of the first seven days after it opened for business; how many Taiwan Chinese are expected to apply for and to receive British visas via this office in 1989 and at what approximate annual rate as far as can be estimated; how much is charged in NT dollars for each visa that is issued; and if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the charges made by the United States and by other EEC member countries which issue, or have been issued on their behalf, visas in Taipei.

Mr. Eggar

The Anglo-Taiwan trade committee has given us the following information about the operation of its visa-handling unit:

(i) Visas processed on each of the first seven days after opening
Date Number
Thursday 1 June 21
Friday 2 June 65
Monday 5 June 129
Tuesday 6 June 73
Wednesday 7 June 71
Thursday 8 June 1Nil
Friday 9 June 188
1National Holiday.

(ii) The Anglo-Taiwan trade committee anticipates that approximately 26,000–27,000 Taiwan Chinese will apply for and receive United Kingdom visas via their office in 1989. It estimates that it will process around 40,000 applications in 1990 and forecasts an upward trend thereafter.

(iii) The Anglo-Taiwan trade committee currently charges NT $1,250 for a single entry visa and NT $2,450 for a multiple entry visa.

(iv) Visa charges levied in Taiwan by United States and other EC member countries
Country NT$ charge
United States 250
Belgium 900–4,000
Denmark 1,500
France 205–410
FRG 660
Greece 1,700
Ireland 3,250
Italy 1,000
Luxembourg 900–4,000
Netherlands 1,000–4,000
Portugal 1,900–3,000
Spain 1,700