CODE 18-77
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Mallett, M & VD
HKK 345 2
RECEIVED
AKERY NO. 51 11 MAY 1979
ISSUE OF CHINESE VISAS IN HONG KƠNG
NY
DESK OFFICIA
INDEX
PA
Action Tare
No
اذاك
يسهل
Mr Williamson kindly sent FED a copy of his minute to you of 3 May on this subject.
1.
2. The political arguments in favour of authorising the Chinese to issue visas in Hong Kong are very strong. The Chinese have a long standing request for appointing an official Representative to Hong Kong. We have with good reason, resisted this (it would undermine confidence in the long term future of Hong Kong etc) and have been able to argue plausibly that there was nothing which such a Representative could do which was not already being done by other Chinese officials in Hong Kong. Failure to meet the Chinese on the question of visa issue would undermine the whole of this argument, and would make it much more difficult to resist further Chinese requests for authorisation to appoint a Representative.
3. Particularly if, as I understand it, you are not irrevocably set against allowing non-Consular officers to issue visas, I hope that you will agree to treat the Chinese in Hong Kong as a special case. If Dr Wilson is confident that he can hold the line against, e.g. the Vietnamese (and presumably Taiwanese) I see no reason why we should dispute that judgement.
10 May 1979
CC:
Mr Williamson, HKGD Mr Hayward, FED
RC Fursland
Far Eastern Department K255 233 5539
CONFIDENTIAL