CONFIDENTIAL
10. Neither is acceptable.
There is not the staff or accommodation
in the Embassy in Peking to issue the visas. The Hong Kong Government would not be happy for CTS to process the applications in Hong Kong.
Most of those claiming to be in transit want to settle in Hong Kong.
Bona fides could not be satisfactorily checked from documents provided by CTS. System would be inefficient and some with valid
visas would have to be returned. This would be unsatisfactory and lead to another argument. We have however recently agreed also to allow those with valid passports, onward visas and tickets to enter
Hong Kong at Kai Tak Airport. This should ease the problem. The
Chinese want us to agree to discuss this problem and if pushed we
should agree to do so.
Alleged Maltreatment of Chinese Visitors
11. The Chinese, including Huang Hua to Lord Carrington, have alleged
that Chinese citizens passing through Hong Kong have been maltreated
by the Immigration Department. No specific cases have been substan-
tiated but we have been and remain ready to investigate any specific
allegations.
Official Chinese Representative in Hong Kong
12. Chinese have raised idea several times in recent years (though
not during Lord Carrington's visit in April 1981). May well revert.
Previously we have taken line that time was not ripe. First Director
of New China News Agency (NCNA) is now channel of communication
between Hong Kong and Peking and accepted as de facto representative.
If Chinese now propose formal status for Representative we should
not rule out but insist that it would be very unsettling to Hong Kong
unless balanced by something definite about at least medium-term future. Essential in any case that functions and role of Represent-
ative be defined and agreed so as to avoid 'two Governors'.
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/Chinese