CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 345/2
AK Mason Esq
Principal Assistant Secretary
for Cecurity
Government Secretariat
CNG KONG
RECEIVLO
NO. 51
? APR
DESK OFFICER
HADEX
.PA
ACTIO
233-4439
HKK 021/1
30 March 1979
G
ISSUE OF VIDAS BY CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE (CTS) IN HONG KONG
1. We spoke about paragraph 4 of your letter of 17 arch LCK 45/64 11.
Mck
seef
2. As I told you, I have discussed the possibility of allow- ing the CT to issue visas in iiong Kong for travel to China with V. Their initial reaction is that the answer must be negative; it is the long-standing policy of G to require that all consular functions undertaken in the UK and Dependent Territories should be carried out by Consular staff. ny changes in this policy would have to be considered in the light of the precedents they would create - i.e. Vietnam being the obvious case.
3. However, MVL did not rule out the possibility entirely. This is an unusual situation and they would be quite prepared to reconsider their decision when the full facts have been put to them. if you do wish to pursue this, then i should be grateful if you would let us have the full picture, specific- ally what is done now (we are rather ignorant of what the actual process for obtaining a visa is at present), what is proposed and why, from your point of view, it is important to agree to this.
4.
I am pursuing the Vietnamese request to issue visas in Hong kong separately with ¡VL.
cc:
fir Mallett, MVD
P J Williamson
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFILENTIAL