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4. IT WOULD ALSO BE WRONG TO VARY THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT THROUGH DISCUSSION HERE. WE COULD END UP WITH A WHOLE SERIES OF LOCAL DEROGATIONS.
5. THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT THE POLITICAL ADVISER SHOULD TELL THE DIRECTOR THAT HIS REQUEST HAS BEEN CONSIDERED, BUT THAT ANY CHANGES
TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE SET OUT IN THE AGREED MEMORANDUM MUST BE RAISED WITH THE EMBASSY. HE WOULD ALSO INFORM THE NCNA OF THIS RESPONSE, ADDING THAT IT IS A PITY THIS QUESTION SHOULD HAD BEEN RAISED WHEN THE INK IS HARDLY DRY ON AN AGREEMENT
REACHED WITH SUCH DIFFICULTY.
6. IF THIS IS AGREED, WE SHOULD NEED TO DECIDE WHAT LINE THE EMBASSY SHOULD TAKE IF THE MFA REVERT TO THE MATTER. FOR THE REASONS GIVEN IN PARA 3 ABOVE, AND BECAUSE THE ISSUE HAS BEEN SENSITIVE IN EXCO (MY TELNO 750) (AND WILL BE MORE SO FOLLOWING THE
NATIONALITY BILL), I SHOULD PREFER THE EMBASSY TO REPLY (A) THAT THE TERMS OF THE AGREED MEMORANDUM MUST BE OBSERVED BY BOTH SIDES:
(B) THE FUNCTIONS OF THE VISA OFFICE ARE CLEARLY DEFINED IN THE MEMORANDUM: AND (C) THEY DO NOT INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF
PASSPORTS.
7. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOU VIEWS AND THOSE OF HM AMBASSADOR ON THE LINE PROPOSED IN PARAS 5 AND 6 ABOVE. IF YOU THINK IT TOO AGID, WE COULD PERHAPS AGREE THAT THE VISA OFFICE MIGHT ISSUE
PASSPORTS EXCEPTIONALLY BUT ONLY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION IN EACH CASE. I SHOULD BE VERY RELUNCTANT
TO CONCEDE BLANKET AUTHORITY.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HK & GD
FED
MVD
MR DONALD
MR ADAMS
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