(Translation)
Manila, March 19. 1981
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
4
· of overseas
Intives or
1 wish to present my compliments and have the honour to inform the Chinese Foreign Ministry of . a following: Since the establishment of diplomatic relay between
China and the Philippines, a growing num
Chinese have travelled to China, visiting r
sightseeing, etc. They have all spoken bi gress and prosperity achieved in socialis! their motherland. Over the years, however,
Over the years, however, there have been also incessant and loud complaints from the overseas Chinese visiting China via Hongkong about the unequal treatment they have received in Hongkong. This is hand to have an adverse effect on their sense of patrioties.
y of the pro- nstruction of
The reason of their complaints is that any overseas Chinese holding Chinese passports or homesg ing certifi- cates who return to China by way of Honden
are allowed
to stay for only 48 hours before they have to leave.
ا.
During this short stay, they have to spend one day going through immigration formalities and other genessory pro-
cedures, with almost no tine loft
If one enters Hongkong on Saturday, which
fatrs.
followed
by a non-working day of Sunday, then he will have even
less time for scheduled business or personal matt This state of affairs has become a thomy and
resentful
problem for ordinary oversees Chinese returning to China
via Hongkong, In sharp contrast, ordinary foreigners of Chinese origin holding the passports of the Philippines or of other countries may enter Hongkong and stay there for 7 days on presenting their passports without coupleting