CONFIDENTIAL
As you know, it is particularly important in the Hong Kong context to keep our relationship with China running smoothly. Visa problems such as this cause irritation quite disproportionate to their individual importance.
I am also concerned that the commercial and other benefits we hope to get from improving contacts with China should not be frustrated by unnecessary delays in our visa issuing system. I should be most grateful if you could see whether increased resources can be provided to deal with the increased
number of visa applications. I should then like to revert
to the Chinese Foreign Minister and assure him that we
have taken action to ensure that the delays which happened
last summer will not recur. I should like to be able to
do this with reasonable speed.
GEOFFREY HOWE
?
Jo
CONFIDENTIAL