GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 349/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
19 MAY 1987
DESK OFFICER
FROM PEKING 17053CZ MAY 83
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 48 OF 17/5/83
REPEATED FOR INFO TO PRIORITY FCO
тор
сори
126
INDEX
PA
see
(6)
PA
Faney
✓
AF 1915
YOUR TEL NO 232:
CHINESE VISA OFFICE
1. AT THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING LIN YONGPIN, WHO AT FIRST
AFFECTED TO BE UNAWARE OF THE DISCUSSIONS HELD WITH MADAME XU HANDING, HANDED OVER A CHINESE DRAFT NOTE INTENDED TO INCOR- PORATE THE 4 REQUESTS WHICH HE HAD PUT TO US ORALLY IN JANUARY
(MY TEL NO 10). HE ASKED THE EMBASSY TO LET HIM HAVE A WRITTEN REPLY TO THIS.
2. GALSWORTHY REPEATED THE STATEMENT WHICH HE HAD MADE TO MME XU, BASED ON YOUR TELNO 201. HE ALSO REPEATED THAT THE AGREEMENT OF
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PROPOSE LEGISLATION TO GRANT PRIV-
ILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO THE VISA OFFICE WAS CONDITIONAL ON THE NEGOTIATION OF AN ACCEPTABLE UK/CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT. LIN EXPLICITLY ACCEPTED THIS, AND SAID THAT AGREEMENT ON THE TWO QUESTIONS WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE SAME TIME.
3. THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE CHINESE DRAFT IS IN MIFT. CHINESE TEXT BY BAG. IN SOME RESPECTS EG EXEMPTION FROM CUSTOMS DUTY OF ARTICLES IMPORTED FOR PRIVATE USE BY STAFF MEMBERS, THE CHINESE DRAFT GOES LESS FAR THAN THAT INMY TEL NO 44. YOU WILL WISH TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ANYTHING IN IT TO WHICH YOU WOULD
OJBECT. THERE SEEMS NO POINT IN GOING BEYOND WHAT THE CHINESE
ARE NOW PROPOSING.
4. ON THE QUESTION OF RE-ISSUE OF PASSPORTS, GALSWORTHY POINTED OUT THAT THE CHINESE HAD BEEN ASKING ONLY FOR THE RIGHT TO
RE-ISSUE WHEN PASSPORTS WERE LOST, STOLEN, FULL OR EXPIRED. LIN CONFIRMED THAT THAT WAS STILL THE CHINESE INTENTION.
CONFIDENTIAL
/s.
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