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FM BRIT INT SECT TEHRAN 161015Z DEC
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAMNUMBER 836 OF 16 DECEMBER 82
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.
1.
HONG KONG TELNO 1307 :
VISAS FOR IRANIAN BUSINESSMEN IN HONG KONG.
I WAS SUMMONED TODAY BY THE HEAD OF THE ASIA DEPARTMENT
hif
AT THE MFA WHO PLEADED WITH ME TO ALLOW THE FASHEMI COMPANY
AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG.
2.
I EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD SHOWN FAVOURS TOWARDS THESE GENTLEMEN SOME NINE MONTHS AGO AND MANY OTHER SIGNS OF GOODWILL TO THE IRANIANS BUT THERE HAD BEEN LITTLE RESPONSE FROM THE IRANIAN SIDE. I FEARED THEREFORE THAT IT WOULD BE
DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LONDON'S DECISION.
3. MIRZAMANI, WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST GENIAL OF REVOLUTIONARIES,
TOOK THE POINT THOUGH HE ARGUED THAT IF WE SHOWED GOODWILL ON THIS OCCASION NOW HE COULD USE IT TO SUPPORT OUR CASE WITH SHAIKHOLESLAM. I SAID I WOULD REPORT WHAT HE SAID BUT FEARED
IT WAS TOO LATE. THERE WERE CURRENTLY EVEN DIFFICULTIES ABOUT VISAS FOR REPLACEMENTS FOR EMBASSY STAFFS. WE HAD GIVEN A VISA FOR THE FUTURE IRANIAN ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG BUT NOT YET RECEIVED ONE FOR OUR OWN STAFF MEMBER. I FEARED THINGS COULD GET MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE IRANIANS IN HONG KONG. WE MUST ALL WORK FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN RELATIONS, WITH WHICH
HE AGREED.
4.
I LEFT HIM WITH A COPY OF MR RAFSANJANI'S REMARKS ABOUT THE
NEED FOR MQVA///M S MUTUAL RIGHTS AND FORMALITIES IN RELATIONS
WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
5BARRINGTON
LIMITED
MED
PCD LEGAL ADV
HK vG D
PS/MR HURD SIRJ LEAHY MR EGERTON
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