CONFIDENTIAL
THICK 349/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTR
27.0013
DESK OFFICEN
INDEX
EGISTRY
PA
yu Taken
98.
26887
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PP PEKING
GRS 571
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 241700Z OCT 83
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 717 OF 25 OCTOBER
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
ра
see (97) (98) (101)
349/1.
YOUR TELNOS 1033 AND 1034: CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT IN YOUR TELNO 1034:
1. PREAMBLE, LINE 3: WE WOULD PREFER TO SUBSTITUTE 'BRITISH
EMBASSY' FOR 'EMBASSY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN
AND NORTHERN IRELAND IN CHINA' (BUT CAN AGREE TO THE CHINESE WORDING IF THEY INSIST ON IT).
2.
PARA 1(3): WE AGREE WITH GALSWORTHY'S COMMENTS, AND PREFER
HIS SUGGESTED TEXT. REFERENCE TO 'PERSONAL INVIOLABILITY'
COULD BE INTERPRETED BY CHINESE AS CONFERRING A DEGREE OF
INVIOLABILITY IN EXCESS OF FREEDOM FROM ARREST OR DETENTION
PENDING TRIAL. MOREOVER ITS REMOVAL WOULD HAVE THE ADDED
MERIT OF BRINGING THE TEXT CLOSER TO THAT OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF
THE DRAFT CONSULAR AGREEMENT. HOWEVER WE SHOULD NOT
WISH TO MAKE THIS A STICKING POINT, AND COULD LIVE WITH
THE CHINESE TEXT IF NEED BE.
3. PARA 1(4): WE AGREE THAT THE CHINESE REWORDING IS UNCLEAR.
WE SUGGEST INSTEAD: 'TO THE EXTENT WHICH WOULD BE ACCORDED
UNDER ARTICLE 43 OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR
RELATIONS IF THOSE OFFICERS WERE CONSULAR OFFICERS'.
AS A FALL-BACK, WE SUGGEST SUBSTITUTING 'APPROPRIATE' FOR
'ACCORDED' IN THE ABOVE FORMULA. THIS WOULD BE NEARER TO
THE CHINESE WORDING AND COULD THEREFORE PERHAPS BE
PRESENTED AS A CLARIFICATION IN ENGLISH OF THE TEXT
SUGGESTED BY THE CHINESE. EITHER OF THESE ALTERNATIVES
WOULD OF COURSE BE PREFERABLE TO AN ORAL STATEMENT, WHICH WE WOULD PREFER TO AVOID.
4. PARA 1 (5): SUBJECT TO HONG KONG'S VIEWS, WE HAVE NO
(IC3.
102
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CONFIDENTIAL