SCR 1/4731/49
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 345/2
Record of Meeting with NCNA OF RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
21 May at 3.30 p.m.
1 JUN 1979
28
Present:
Dr D C Wilson
Mr I C Orr
Mr Li Jusheng
Mr Tan Gan
Mr Li Rouhe
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
Original at: HKK 341|1
This Copy for :
Informatica only/Action on
Para(s)
1 Visaw
2) Inumigration
Issue of Chinese Visas in Hong Kong
It was
Dr Wilson referred to an earlier conversation in which Mr Li had raised the difficulties caused by the inability of people wishing to visit China to have visas issued in Hong Kong. We appreciated the practical problems this caused. During his meeting in Peking with the Chinese Foreign Minister, in which the disadvantages of China not having official representation in Hong Kong had been raised, the Governor had emphasised that every- thing possible would be done to remove obstacles to the satisfactory working of the present arrangement. against this background that he now wished to tell NCNA that there would be no objection to visas being issued in Hong Kong. Mr Li said that this was good news. There was a problem in deciding who should issue the visas. It would not be appropriate for NCNA to do so and China Travel Service in Hong Kong was a Hong Kong- based organisation. He thought the office should be called the Hong Kong Visa Office of the Guangdong Province Foreign Affairs Bureau (Guangdong, sheng waishichu zhu Xianggang qiangzhengchu). After some discussion of the correct translation into English Dr Wilson said his preliminary view was that this would be possible but he would like to consider further before giving a definite response.
Illegal Immigration
2.
Dr Wilson said that the problem of legal and illegal immigration had been raised during the Governor's visit to Peking. It had indeed led to the discussion of official representation to which he had just referred. He had discussed legal and illegal immigration last week. Both were very serious problems. We were very concerned by the huge numbers recently of illegal immigrants. He would be grateful to know Mr Li's estimate of the number of illegals caught in China and of the number who got through without us catching them. Mr Li said that strict measures had been taken in China to prevent illegal
/contd.....
CONFIDENTIAL.