Hile
34512
CONFIDENTIAL
177
GRS 180
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 050968Z
FM HONG KONG 0507452 AUG 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 852 OF 5 AUGUST
776
YOURTELNO 604 : FID CONGRESS.
PA
Top copy
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FID ORGANISING COMMITTEE HERE, A MR BARRY
BURTON, WAS INFORMED ON 20 NOVEMBER 1981 THAT WE SHOULD BE UNABLE
TO ADMIT ANY SOVBLOC NATIONAL TO THE CONGRESS. IN JANUARY 1982 HE APPEALED BUT WAS TOLD THAT OUR DECISION MUST STAND. FROM TELEPHONE DISCUSSION WITH HIM AT THE TIME AND IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT UNTIL NOW WE HEARD NO MORE ON THE SUBJECT (THE CONGRESS IS TO BE HELD NEXT MONTH) WE ASSUMED THAT THE ORGANISERS HAD ACCEPTED
THE POSITION.
2. WE CONTINUE TO KEEP TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM THE NUMBER OF SOVBLOC NATIONALS ALLOWED TO COME HERE. OUR THINKING IS REFLECTED
IN YOUR CIRCULAR ''0' 14/74 OF 22 JAN 74. ONCE WE CEASE TO HOLD THIS LINE WE SHALL BE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE INDEED SINCE
see 178
WE ARE FREQUENTLY UNDER PRESSURE FROM CONFERENCE ORGANISERS, SPORTS
PROMOTERS, IMPRESARIOS TOURIST ASSOCIATION ETC TO LET THESE PEOPLE IN. THE BODIES CONCERNED KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON WHO IS ADMITTED AND WOULD BE QUICK TO QUOTE PRECEDENT.
3. APPLICATIONS TO ATTEND THE CONGRESS HAVE BEEN MADE BY FIVE SOVBLOC NATIONALS : 3 FROM USSR, 1 FROM HUNGARY AND 1 FROM BULGARIA, VISAS HAVE BEEN REFUSED IN ALL CASES.
YOUDE
MINIMAL
HK & GD
M & VD
EESD
CONFIDENTIAL