Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH
238
As Beyes 78. Draw Day.
lo
R-н сору
K Sullivan Esq British Embassy Peking
Telephone 01- 233-5313 Exchange 233-3000
HKK184/2
Your reference
Qur reference
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. I Date
16 AUG 1979
DESK OFFICER
IN
in Quarrie FCD,
Then
pa.
Mhing
13 August 1979
HKIED.
PA
info
Dear Kim
UK-PRC CIVIL AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT:
1.
2.
VISAS
I refer to your letter of 3 August to Mr Mallett.
I think the visa arrangements could in this case be most conveniently recorded in an exchange of letters between the Embassy and the appropriate authorities in Peking setting out the arrangements as understandings rather than as an Agreement. I suggest this because the Chinese indicated that they had been easing up on requirements of this kind and it would be easier to take advantage of any future relaxations if the arrangements are not put in too solid a framework. Secondly, if we simply record understandings as to these arrangements it will not be necessary to publish the document, which may avoid the difficulty, to which you refer in paragraph 3 of your letter, over the term "territory".
3. If the Chinese agree that the arrangements need not form a separate agreement (and the fact that they did not insist on their inclusion in the Agreement suggests that they can accept something less formal), I think you should suggest an exchange of letters on the lines of that in the draft attached to this letter pointing out that we have put the provisions into a form that we would not expect to be published.
4.
I have suggested the minimum changes in the Chinese draft that are required for formal reasons and would welcome comments on these or the general proposal. No doubt others will also comment on any points of substance.
со
G H Boyce Esq, MAED, FCO
Yours ever,
Richard Gardiner
P G F Bryant Esq, CAIR Division, DOT
RK Gardiner
Legal Advisers
P Sleightholme Esq, Immigration Dept, Hong Kong (with enolosures) NT Latham Esq, Civil Aviation Dept, Hong Kong
I C Orr Esq, APA, Hong Kong
Mr Mallett, MVD, FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
t
of
birth,
1