Mr
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference
(19)
du. Found 2% Refer by Jee erikof.
Is Stoyart by Keillen / minute overvent.
HONG KONG: VISAS FOR BULGARIANS
1.
I think you should be aware of Mr David's minute of 17 June in case the Private Office should get on to you about Mr Mikardo's approach on behalf of four Bulgarian businessmen who have apparently not yet received a reply to their applications for visas to visit Hong Kong from 3 to 7 July.
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2. Assuming Miss Turner has spoken to Mr Mikardo along the lines suggested by Mr David, I think that we need do no more than take note of the position. We do not know where the Bulgarians have applied for visas HM Embassy, Sofia to the Hong Kong Government direct or through the FCO (? M&VD) or elsewhere so we cannot easily enquire what is happening, even if we wanted to do so. If the Bulgarians wish to go to Hong Kong for what can reasonably be established as bona fide business reasons, it may be that the Hong Kong Government can make an exception and grant them visas. The Hong Kong Government told us, in connection with the case of Mr Barcak, the Czechoslovak Foreign Trade Minister, a few months ago, that if Eastern Europeans wished to visit Hong Kong to discuss "mutual commercial interest" they would be prepared to consider such a possibility (Hong Kong telegram no 1 of 1 March to Prague). I think there have been instances in the past of Eastern European trade missions visiting Hong Kong, though whether the visit that the Bulgarians want to make could be regarded as falling into the category of a trade mission is not clear. Again, I think we can await developments.
3.
This is the third instance in the last six months of our being faced with difficulties in connection with potential Eastern European visitors to Hong Kong. There was the approach from the World Baptist Alliance, who wanted to hold a youth conference in Hong Kong in July 1978. The Hong Kong Government, with our acquies- cence, were not prepared to give an assurance that visas would be issued to any Eastern European and Cuban baptists who might wish to attend this conference and the organisers have since arranged for it to take place in Manila (Mr David tells me that M&VD have received an MP's letter, which is being transferred to us, com- plaining about the Hong Kong Government's decision). The second instance was that involving Mr Barcak, which I have already mentioned. I do not think there is any point in rehearsing now the arguments for and against the Hong Kong Government's policy of restricting the issue of visas to nationals of Soviet Bloc countries: these were set out in connection with the Barcak case. The issue remains sensitive, however, not least it seems to me with the preparatory meeting for the CSCE Review Conference currently taking place in Belgrade and the full conference due to take place later this year. It may be at some stage that the Hong Kong Government's policy on visas for Soviet Bloc nationals should be submitted afresh to Ministers for endorsement or not as the case may be. I am mindful that the basic guidance, which was drawn up in January 1974, pre-dates the forming of the present Labour administration. For the time-being, I think we can wait to see what happens about the Bulgarians.
CODE 18-77
$S 10/76
(with copies of Mr David's minute cc: Mr Popplewell (FED) of 17 June)
Mr Figgis (EESD)
Mr Shepherd (M&VD)
D.F. Millon
D F Milton
Hong Kong & General Dept
K 247
233 4381