GR 185
NFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 170417Z MAY 79
TOP
TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.593 OF 17 MAY,
INFO PRIORITY: PEKING,
HKK345/21
ROUTINE : HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
COPY
DESK CAVIČEK MISEX
PA
Noi Pow
FOLLOWING FOR MCLAREN (HKGD) FROM POLITICAL ADVISER,
MY LETTER OF 24 APRIL : ISSUING OF VISAS BY THE CHINESE.
I AM ANXIOUS TO RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE CHINESE
REQUEST ABOUT ISSUING VISAS HERE. WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAW HUANG HUA IN PEKING HE SAID THAT WE WOULD DEAL WITH ANY PRACTICAL NEEDS THE CHINESE HAD IN OPERATING THEIR EXISTING FORM OF REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG. THE SUGGESTION ABOUT VISAS MAY HAVE BEEN A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ASSURANCE. MEETING THEM ON THIS POINT IS IN
ANY CASE AN IMPORTANT PART OF UNDERMINING THEIR CASE FOR OFFICIAL
REPRESENTATION.
2.
IN ADDITION, WITH THE CHINESE BEING MUCH SLOWER THAN WE WOULD LIKE IN RESPONDING TO OUR SUGGESTION OF TALKS ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ON
OUR SIDE CAN MOVE QUICKLY.
3.
GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR AN EARLY RESPONSE TO MY LETTER.
MACLEHOSE
21
FILES
HK & GD (6)
MVD
MR CORTAZZI
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE, LONDON
MR MURRAY
MR FIGG
CONFIDENTIAL